The Importance of Shame in Politics

Shame bursts out only when as is, as if we don't know, breaks down. When the attempt to maintain a public secret fails, shame arises in everybody who is present. We all feel equally ashamed since it became obvious that we all knew the reality and just discreetly ignored it. Stalinism is perhaps the clearest political case of such an innocent observer. The Stalinist regime reacted with total panic whenever there was a threat that appearances will be disturbed.