The interplay between public and private interests is a topic that I often contemplate, as it is fascinating to consider how personal decisions can impact major public events such as wars and scandals. Conversely, public, structural constraints can also shape people’s private decisions, careers, and safety.
This concept is evident in my writing about corruption, where individual decisions to commit crimes are influenced by the broader corrupt equilibrium that makes it the only way to get ahead. It is also evident in coups, where individual elites may support the coup to protect their personal interests, resulting in the plot’s success. Gender equality is another area where this interplay is evident, as women’s success and participation in public life are constrained by institutions that place the burden of preventing violence and overcoming discrimination on the victims rather than the perpetrators.
This theme is central to a large project that…
2023-04-28 09:25:43
Original from www.nytimes.com