Why Social Change is so Hard

On slavery, historian Katie Kelaidis points out:

“Millennia of great moral teachers sought to come to terms with slavery and to mitigate its inhumanity, but no one—not Jesus, not Buddha, not Muhammad, not Socrates—considered the complete liberation of all slaves.”

I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it reminded me that bringing about any change on aspects deeply ingrained into society’s fabric requires political will. Moral preaching alone will never suffice.

When Daenerys tries to abolish slavery and faces the inevitable backlash in Game of Thrones, Ser Barriston Selmy’s statement strikes her with full force:

“No ruler can make a people good.”

And yet, to bring about change, a ruler needs support on the ground, as Daenerys reminds herself:

“To rule Meereen I must win the Meereenese however much I may despise them.”

The continuous hit-and-run attacks by those who were the beneficiaries of slavery means the price is being paid by Daenerys and innocents alike. It makes Daenerys question the wisdom of her decision to abolish slavery:

“Was I so blind, or did I close my eyes willfully, so I would not have to see the price of power?”

Others come openly to her court and tell her the costs and end to end implications of ending slavery, like former slaves who find them with no skills for the workplace. And few households having the money to hire those former slaves as paid servants. Which leaves the former slaves with no way to earn money:

“If this is truly what my people wish, do I have the right to deny it to them? It was their city before it was mine, and it is their own lives they wish to squander.”

And even the worst practices had some positive consequences, as one petitioner tells Daenerys:

“Much that may seem evil can be good.”

And there are negative consequences of even the positive acts, as Xaro says:

“A poor city that was once rich. A hungry city that was once fat. A bloody city that was once peaceful.”

Just think of Iraq before and after Saddam…

And then there are the neighboring kingdoms which were part of the slave trade, who now become enemies of Daenerys for interfering with business:

“When you smashed the slave trade, the blow was felt from Westeros to Asshai… the list is long, my queen.”

Has Daenerys freed the slaves only to drag them into a continuous war?

“They came here for refuge, to a city untouched by the fighting, and here I turn up to drag them back into the war.”

And unintentionally, Daenerys has triggered hope in the slaves other neighboring kingdoms:

“She is on her way. She is coming at the head of a great host.”

Which raises the question as to what is the scope of Daenerys’ mission? Is it her mission to free slave everywhere? Or just within areas she rules?

And whose job is it to keep the slaves free? Ser Barristan Selmy’s view is:

“Her Grace freed you from your chains. It is for you to sharpen your swords and defend your freedom when she leaves.”

No easy answers, too many tough questions, no way of even being sure if slavery will relapse… no wonder it took so long for slavery to be eliminated. And what applies for slavery applies for most other social evils as well, which is why they are just as hard to eliminate.