The Real Criminals: Power, Exploitation, and the Zombie Metaphor
Introduction
The narrative of crime often centers on images of shadowy figures, masked burglars, or unshaven outcasts haunting the streets in the dead of night. But this narrow portrayal neglects a more pervasive form of criminality—one that takes place in the open, in broad daylight, committed not by individuals on the fringes of society but by those who sit atop its hierarchical structures. These are the crimes of the powerful, whose actions, policies, and business practices create systemic exploitation, and lead to suffering on a massive scale. As CEO of alfons.design and the artist platform ikziezombies.com, I have seen this dynamic firsthand, especially after my candidacy for the vice presidency of the Council of State of the Netherlands. In this essay, I will explore how the concept of ‘zombies’ can be used as a symbolic tool to represent these seemingly untouchable forces and why the real criminals may not be those we usually associate with wrongdoing.
The Power of the Zombie Metaphor
In popular culture, zombies often represent mindless, destructive forces—figures who have lost their humanity, driven by an insatiable hunger. On my artist platform, ikziezombies.com, I use the image of the zombie not to depict literal monsters, but as a metaphor for a kind of moral decay at the highest levels of society. These zombies walk among us, masked as leaders, CEOs, and policy makers. They commit crimes daily, but their acts are sanctioned by systems of power that obscure their accountability. By using the term ‘zombies’ in crime reporting, one can address these malevolent forces without necessarily pointing fingers. It is an abstraction that allows us to discuss evil in all its forms, especially in the corridors of power, where such behavior is often disguised as business as usual.
Crimes in Broad Daylight
There is a dangerous misconception that crime is the domain of individuals struggling to survive, the marginalized who steal out of necessity, or the lone predator lurking in the shadows. However, most of the crimes that truly shape our world happen in the open. These are the crimes of exploitation, where large corporations and governments design systems that abuse the weak. Take, for instance, the textile factories in India, where workers are paid mere euros for back-breaking labor. The real criminals are not just the factory managers but the global supply chains that maintain these conditions, led by multinational corporations that prioritize profits over human dignity. These actions are legitimized by legal frameworks, but they exploit vulnerable populations in ways that are far more harmful than most petty crimes.
Sociopaths in Power: Childhood to High Office
There is a deeper psychological element to the behavior of those at the top. Many of these individuals, described as sociopaths, exhibit behaviors reminiscent of childhood cruelty—the same kind of emotional detachment and lack of empathy that might drive a child to harm defenseless animals. These early traits, unchecked, manifest in adulthood as a willingness to exploit millions. Such individuals rise through society’s ranks not despite these tendencies, but often because of them. Their ability to manipulate, exploit, and control makes them uniquely suited for leadership roles in capitalist economies. The zombie metaphor becomes even more apt here: these are individuals who have lost their humanity in the pursuit of power and wealth, thriving in systems that reward predatory behavior.
The Food Chain of Exploitation
This leads us to a critical question: Who is the real criminal? Is it the person at the bottom of the food chain, stealing or engaging in illegal activities out of desperation, or is it those at the top who create the conditions for such desperation? It is easy to blame those at the margins, but a deeper look reveals a network of exploitation that starts with the powerful. The textile worker in India making five euros a day doesn’t choose this life—it is imposed upon them by global systems of trade, labor, and exploitation. These systems are maintained by governments, corporations, and financial elites who shape the rules to benefit themselves while ignoring the needs of the most vulnerable.
The Illusion of Legitimacy
Part of what makes these high-level crimes so insidious is that they are often framed as legitimate. The laws that govern global trade, labor practices, and corporate governance are written by those in power, ensuring that their actions, no matter how harmful, remain within the boundaries of legality. This creates a façade of legitimacy that shields the real criminals from scrutiny. The average citizen is more likely to be outraged by a petty thief than by the CEO of a multinational corporation whose policies result in widespread poverty and environmental destruction. Yet, the impact of these high-level crimes is far greater. They are crimes of structural violence, slowly eroding the fabric of society while maintaining the illusion of progress and prosperity.
Conclusion: A Call to Rethink Criminality
In this essay, I have attempted to unravel the complex web of exploitation and power that underpins modern society. The real criminals are not the desperate, the marginalized, or the petty offenders who dominate news headlines. The real criminals are those who sit at the top, whose actions are framed as legitimate but whose behavior leads to the exploitation, suffering, and even death of millions worldwide. By using the zombie metaphor, we can begin to see these individuals and institutions for what they truly are: malevolent forces that thrive on destruction and exploitation. The challenge is to dismantle these systems and hold the true criminals accountable, so that we may one day create a society where human dignity is valued above profit and power.
This essay marks just the beginning of a deeper exploration into how we define crime, responsibility, and morality in a world where power often goes unchecked.
To create a cross-referenced, extensive reading list based on the subject matter you’ve discussed, we’ll need to address several key areas and link them to relevant scholarly articles, books, and other sources. These include:
• Power and Exploitation in Modern Society
• Corporate Crime and Structural Violence
• Sociopathy and Leadership Dynamics
• Economic Exploitation and Global Supply Chains
• Philosophical and Psychological Approaches to Crime
• Fantasy Metaphors (Zombies) as Cultural Symbols of Malevolence
I’ll cascade these topics with the knowledge areas discussed previously (such as societal power dynamics, inequality, governance issues, crime, and the zombie metaphor). Here’s an elaborated reading list with cross-references:
1. Power and Exploitation in Modern Society
Key Topics:
• Corporate Governance
• Exploitation of Vulnerable Populations
• Political Structures that Enable Economic Disparity
Recommended Reading:
• C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite (1956)
Mills examines how political, military, and corporate leaders control society, discussing how their decisions shape the lives of the powerless.
• Noam Chomsky, Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order (1999)
Chomsky critiques the global economic system and the mechanisms of corporate power, reflecting themes of exploitation mentioned in your essay.
• David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (2007)
This book provides an overview of the rise of neoliberalism, explaining how policies have enabled the economic exploitation of weaker populations.
Cross-reference:
This fits with your perspective on how sociopaths rise to power, reinforcing a system of structural exploitation, much like you discussed in your exploration of high-level crimes committed in daylight.
2. Corporate Crime and Structural Violence
Key Topics:
• Structural Violence
• Corporate Criminality
• Human Rights Violations in Global Supply Chains
Recommended Reading:
• Vandana Shiva, Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply (2000)
Shiva discusses how multinational corporations exploit global supply chains, similar to your example of Indian workers paid low wages. It highlights structural violence and corporate exploitation.
• Jeffrey Reiman and Paul Leighton, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison (2009)
This text emphasizes the legal structures that enable the wealthy to avoid punishment, while the marginalized face harsh consequences for minor crimes. It mirrors the theme of legitimacy in your essay.
• Nancy Scheper-Hughes, Death Without Weeping: The Violence of Everyday Life in Brazil (1992)
This ethnographic work reveals how poverty and exploitation lead to violence, both structural and individual, resonating with your discussion of economic inequality.
Cross-reference:
This reading aligns with your thoughts on who the “real criminals” are—those at the top of the system, often committing crimes under legal cover, harming millions while the exploited fight for survival.
3. Sociopathy and Leadership Dynamics
Key Topics:
• Sociopathy in Leadership
• Psychological Profiles of Corporate and Political Leaders
• Ethics and Moral Responsibility
Recommended Reading:
• Jon Ronson, The Psychopath Test (2011)
This book explores the presence of sociopathic behavior in individuals in high-power positions, reflecting your theme of sociopaths running major corporations and governments.
• Martha Stout, The Sociopath Next Door (2005)
Stout’s work explains the traits of sociopaths, particularly their lack of empathy and moral detachment, supporting your argument that these individuals thrive in capitalist systems.
• Robert Hare, Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us (1999)
Hare’s exploration of psychopathy, especially in corporate environments, is closely aligned with your analysis of high-level sociopaths influencing global systems of exploitation.
Cross-reference:
These texts provide insight into the psychological profiles of those at the top of the “food chain,” as you referred to them, who commit exploitative crimes while maintaining positions of influence and power.
4. Economic Exploitation and Global Supply Chains
Key Topics:
• Labor Exploitation
• Globalization and Neocolonialism
• Wealth Inequality
Recommended Reading:
• Arundhati Roy, Capitalism: A Ghost Story (2014)
Roy critiques how capitalism exploits the poor and vulnerable, focusing on India and paralleling your references to textile workers earning paltry wages.
• Thomas Piketty, Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2013)
Piketty’s extensive work on wealth inequality provides a statistical foundation for your argument about how systems perpetuate economic disparity.
• Jason Hickel, The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and Its Solutions (2017)
Hickel discusses the systemic factors leading to economic inequality on a global scale, which aligns with your critique of modern economic systems favoring the elite.
Cross-reference:
These works mirror your analysis of global supply chains and how the wealthy exploit the poor under the guise of legal and legitimate operations.
5. Philosophical and Psychological Approaches to Crime
Key Topics:
• Criminality and Moral Philosophy
• Ethics in Power Structures
• The Concept of “Legitimate” Crime
Recommended Reading:
• Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (1975)
Foucault’s exploration of punishment, power, and the state is relevant to your focus on how systems justify or conceal the crimes of the elite.
• Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951)
Arendt’s work on the banality of evil offers philosophical insights into how bureaucratic systems allow widespread harm to be done by “ordinary” individuals in power, resonating with your zombie metaphor.
• Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust (1989)
Bauman’s examination of how modern systems enable atrocities offers a strong philosophical underpinning for your argument that the powerful, rather than the desperate, commit the most serious crimes.
Cross-reference:
These philosophical approaches offer a deeper exploration of the structures and mentalities that justify large-scale harm, in line with your perspective on the banality of high-level crimes.
6. Fantasy Metaphors (Zombies) as Cultural Symbols of Malevolence
Key Topics:
• The Zombie as a Metaphor
• Cultural Depictions of Power and Corruption
• Fantasy and Real-World Parallels
Recommended Reading:
• Kyle William Bishop, American Zombie Gothic: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Walking Dead in Popular Culture (2010)
This text explores how the zombie metaphor is used to critique societal fears, decay, and corruption, much like you do on ikziezombies.com.
• Max Brooks, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (2006)
Brooks’ work uses zombies as a metaphor for global crises and systemic failures, which parallels your use of zombies to represent malevolent power structures.
• Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia (2001)
This text provides a cultural analysis of the evolution of the zombie in popular culture, offering insights into its use as a representation of societal breakdown and unchecked power.
Cross-reference:
These works explore how zombies serve as a representation of societal decay, aligning with your artistic and symbolic use of zombies to highlight high-level crimes and moral failures.
Conclusion
By combining these academic and cultural resources, you can create a richly referenced essay exploring the intersections of power, crime, and exploitation. The readings span from sociology and philosophy to economics and psychology, all cross-referencing the themes you’ve raised about sociopathy, systemic crime, and the metaphor of zombies as representations of high-level malevolence.
This reading list cascades ideas across multiple fields of study, building on your views about societal power dynamics and offering a comprehensive framework to support your essay.