The Dunning-Kruger effect can be mitigated by promoting critical thinking and fostering a culture of intellectual humility that will enable Nepali politicians to make informed choices. Investing in quality education is necessary skills to govern effectively
Nepali politics has been revolving around a few so-called senior leaders of the national political parties for many decades.
Since the reinstatement of multi-party democracy in 1990, these leaders have continuously apprehended the statutory authority despite having been tested and failed multiple times.
Still, a large number of people are endorsing their leadership through periodic elections. The high-ranking leaders have their last say on every issue and, in fact, they consider themselves omniscient. These allusions reflect that the socalled Dunning-Kruger effect has deeply entrenched its roots in Nepali politics.
In fact, this effect is omnipresent in Nepal, be it within the bureaucracy, legislature, judiciary or even within public realm. As politics is the driving force of the country, the Dunning-Kruger effect in politics is severely precluding the prosperity and good governance in Nepal.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people erroneously assess their intellectual ability as superior than it actually is. American psychologist David Dunning and Justin Kruger had enunciated this psychological phenomenon in 1999.
This effect manifests in three stages: a distorted perception of competence masked by overconfidence, a lack of awareness about one's own ignorance, and a deficit in moral judgment.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is revealed in Nepal by the overzealous idealism of the politicians who arrogantly amplify their voices in debates, express support for injustice and position themselves as experts in governance. However, their claims of expertise often belie a lack of substantial experience, coherent ideologies and proficiency in the art of governance. This understanding is justified by the omnipresent but contradicting opinions of the politicians on the same issue on different occasions.
The conflicting statements of a former prime minister – an overrated intellectual – on Maoist cantonment irregularities or corruption associated with the Budhi Gandaki project are prominent examples of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Another former PM with a sound command in Nepali idioms continuously showcases his superficial knowledge on various topics, which his loyal followers perceive as divine lectures. In addition, the agenda-less and baffled leadership of the newly levitated political parties are also idolised by their followers, solely due to their erratic publicity stunts.
These representative examples display that the Dunning-Kruger effect has significantly induced an inherent exertion in Nepali politicians. This is leading them to believe that they possess a higher level of knowledge and skill than they actually do. Consequently, they tend to make decisions without considering the opinions and advice of experts that lead to flawed policies and ineffective governance. The controversial citizenship act that was recently authenticated by the President is a prominent example of this arbitrary attitude. Unfortunately, the misguided self-assurance is preventing the politicians from recognising their limitations.
The inflated self-perception of Nepali politicians is triggering dire consequences for the country. As a result, the Dunning-Kruger effect is undermining people's trust in the existing political system. Additionally, the Dunning-Kruger effect is accompanied by a deficiency in moral judgement. Politicians affected by this phenomenon tend to engage in unethical practices. This contempt for ethical conduct leads to corruption, nepotism and a disregard for the rule of law that ultimately erodes the foundations of an unprejudiced and equitable society.
The skyrocketing corruption – state-sponsored corruption as well as individual illicit misconduct – is a fitting example of plummeting moral judgement of our politicians.
The darker side of nepotism in corruption has been recently revealed by the involvement of the family members of the prominent politicians in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. This is obviously only the tip of the iceberg. If impartially investigated, the keens of many politicians are going to be tanned by grave corruption charges.
To mitigate the impact of the Dunning-Kruger effect in Nepali politics, it is crucial to foster a culture of self-reflection, humility and continuous learning among politicians. Encouraging a system that values expertise, evidence-based decision-making and accountability can help counteract the illusory confidence that often hinders progress. Political leaders should be open to seeking advice and guidance from qualified professionals from various fields to ensure sound governance and effective policy-making.
Furthermore, the Dunning-Kruger effect can be mitigated by promoting critical thinking and fostering a culture of intellectual humility that will enable Nepali politicians to make informed choices that will be beneficial for the nation and the people. Investing in quality education, professional development and training for politicians will narrow down the knowledge gap and equip the politicians with the necessary skills to govern effectively.
To sum up, the Dunning-Kruger effect has silently posed a significant challenge within the realm of Nepali politics. The overconfidence and lack of self-awareness of the politicians is hindering progress and compromising effective governance. Recognising the limitations imposed by this phenomenon and actively working towards addressing these pitfalls through education, self-reflection and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making is crucial in overcoming the obstacles.
If the Dunning-Kruger effect could be overruled, the politicians will be able to proficiently serve their constituencies thereby fostering an unprejudiced and prosperous nation.
Dr Joshi is a senior scientist and independent opinion maker based in Germany pushpa.joshi@ gmail.com
A version of this article appears in the print on June 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
