By Oliver Mills

The term “deep state”
is being used with much frequency in the current political climate in
the United States of America.

According to a source, the
deep state refers to a form of covert government with influential
power networks, operating independently of the official leadership of
the state, advancing its own agenda. It could involve career public
servants fostering their private interests, while opposing those of
elected officials using obstruction and resistance tactics.

The Merriam-Webster
dictionary defines the deep state as an alleged secret network of
non-elected government officials, and sometimes private entities
operating extra-legally to influence and enact government policy.

To me, both these
definitions are rather interesting. They explain clearly the concept
of the deep state, the actors involved, and their intentions.

My view is that the idea
of the deep state could have multiple actors as well as single
individuals, and even temporary groups that join to foster opposition
against the policy of the state, or aspects of a particular policy,
and even to promote certain policies that advance the public good.

The deep state emerges
when individuals with shared interests in a policy find that its
implementation will greatly curtail things they have advocated for
over time. They then present a quiet united front against the policy
or policies. This takes the form of presenting arguments that would
either modify it immensely, or cause it to be abandoned in favour of
those that advance the needs of the deep state actors.

Some deep state actors are
so subtle that they are able to portray what they want as what the
government really needs, so that the initial policy appears
untouched, when in fact deep changes are made to it. Often the
official state actors have little awareness of what has happened. In
many instances, the objectives of the elected officials are
manipulated and softened by the deep state, and their implementation
is either delayed or significantly altered if it does not meet the
satisfaction of the deep state. The end product emerges significantly
different from its initial intentions. In other instances there is
deliberate sabotage of government programmes by the deep state.

In the Caribbean, the
concept of the deep state is hardly evident and is barely ever talked
about. However actions by individual actors or groups in the employ
of the government often surface. For example, particular members of a
committee or board appointed by the official state to deal education
or tourism will see that certain suggestions do not cohere with what
they would prefer. They would therefore present positions
diplomatically that would cast doubt on the points being made, or
even suggest in a subtle way that it would not go down well with the
public. The purpose is to prevent the suggestions coming into effect.
Also in discussing scholarship awards, some committee members might
indicate that certain applicants should not be considered. Deep state
members would show concern about the consequences of not awarding
scholarships to these persons, psychologically pressuring the
committee to make the awards, even against its will.

The deep state might even
pressure vulnerable ministers not to appoint certain persons to
higher positions in a ministry, because of alleged political
unreliability. Or not to pursue a position regarding tourism policy,
even though there is a potential majority position in support of it.
Arguments will be presented such as its negative impact on the
community, or the possibility of its bad influence on the culture
because their view is not entertained. The point is that the deep
state has its own tourism agenda which is not that of the society at
large.

But are the activities of
the deep state always harmful to the policies of the official state?

There are instances where
deep state activities are designed to assist, or make the official
state aware of the damage that might happen as a result of its
intended actions. In this sense it protects the official government,
staving off any harsh reactions by the opposition party, or negative
impact on the society and its institutions. Further, deep state
actions could be done to garner support for the official state’s
actions, and undermine the position of opposition forces.

The deep state may have a
more informed perspective of what is required and once implemented
could benefit the government to a far greater extent than if it had
not brought alternative arguments to the process. It could also be
more beneficial to the society at large.

These are instances of the deep state playing a more helpful role, rather than a self-interested one. It operates to promote, and not prevent or water-down what could be in the interest of the greater good.

END

Oliver Mills is a former lecturer in education at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. He holds an M.Ed degree from Dalhousie University in Canada, an MA from the University of London and a post-graduate diploma in HRM and Training, University of Leicester. He is a past Permanent Secretary in Education with the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands