The Power Dynamics of Organized Stalking
‘Gang-stalking' has become a growing concern with it’s implications for psychological abuse, cyber-bullying and various harassing behaviors. While the effects of this form of targeted harassment are profound, few have looked at the powers that sustain it. It is my belief that we need to dive into the various sources of power contributing to 'gang-stalking' and whether we are justified in our blame.
What is most concerning is that law enforcement often has either explicit or tacit consent for 'gang-stalking' operations. This can range from a force’s implicit acceptance to direct collaboration, with local police departments having been found to be actively involved in covert operations. With such clear authority, it is important to question how and why it is used.
At the same time, this power is reinforced by community support. Whether it comes as gossiping and rumours in small towns or active participation in activities such as stalking, it is difficult to ignore the role of the public in prolonging this culture of abuse. With such support, it becomes difficult to muster resources to stop 'gang-stalking’
The situation is compounded by the community’s indifference. For gangs to thrive, an apathetic attitude towards injustice is necessary in order for it to exist. Without this, it would be much more difficult for these organizations to perpetrate their activities.
This apathy can also be seen in the victim blaming that exists for 'gang-stalking' victims. It is easy to shift the responsibility away from those responsible and onto those who are victims. It is seen as a sign of weakness for someone to be unable to escape the harassment, rather than an intrinsic struggle against an imbalance of power.
On top of it all, research has shown that in many cases, participating individuals will have an extraordinary level of compliance with authority even to the extent of causing harm to others. It’s incredible just how willing people are to go along with orders when they believe a legitimate authority figure is in control. It’s no surprise then that 'gang-stalking' operations draw on this tendency to inflict pain on those they target.
At its heart, 'gang-stalking' is the result of people being able to create unnecessary pain and suffering with impunity. Even though those directly involved may only be acting out of obedience, the ultimate result of such acts is still a shocking form of abuse. We must focus our attention to recognizing the power dynamics that allow 'gang-stalking' to thrive, as well as our role as bystanders in perpetuating it. Only then can we begin to create effective strategies to prevent and put an end to 'gang-stalking' operations.
