Welcome to MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER, a blog series that examines the complexities of strategy in our interactions. We will focus on effective communication, conflict resolution, and building meaningful connections, providing guidance on decision-making and overcoming challenges. The series will cover negotiation, manipulation, leadership skills, personal branding, and online reputation management, equipping you with the tools to navigate power dynamics and succeed in your endeavors. Join us as we explore these crucial topics to help you thrive.
In this installment, we will explore the 15th law of power in the book, the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. You can but a copy by clicking HERE.
LAW 16 USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT & HONOR
In various aspects of life, it is essential to understand the profound impact of absence. The strategic use of absence can serve as a powerful tool to elevate the respect and honor one commands among peers and in personal relationships. When individuals create distance in interactions, whether through physical or emotional withdrawal, they inadvertently cultivate an aura of mystery and uniqueness.
This absence often prompts others to reflect on the value of the relator in their lives, stirring up a newfound appreciation for the person who has stepped back. By intentionally withdrawing at certain moments, one allows others to recognize their significance, fostering deeper connections and enhancing the respect they receive. This period of absence serves as a catalyst for introspection, compelling individuals to analyze their relationships and the roles played within them.
It beckons them to understand not only the contributions made but also the emotional support that often goes unnoticed. Thus, the careful management of presence and absence becomes a crucial strategy in navigating social dynamics effectively, as it enables an environment where people can truly acknowledge and celebrate the qualities that each individual brings to the collective experience, ultimately strengthening the bonds that tie them together.
The 16th Law of Power Through the Eyes of an Angoleiro: The Philosophy of the Malandragem
The title, “The 16th Law of Power Through the Eyes of an Angoleiro,” suggests a synthesis of two distinct, yet surprisingly congruent, philosophies: the pragmatic, often ruthless, principles of power as codified by Robert Greene, and the deep, embodied wisdom found within the Afro-Brazilian art of Capoeira Angola.
The “Angoleiro” is a practitioner and master of Capoeira Angola, a martial art, dance, and philosophical system rooted in the resistance and culture of enslaved Africans in Brazil. An Angoleiro’s perspective is inherently one of survival, subtlety, and strategic indirection—a life lived in the margins, where power is not seized through brute force but cultivated through malandragem.
Interpreting the Unwritten Law
- Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor (The Greene Context): This law advises strategic withdrawal, creating value through scarcity, and the power of the vazio (the void). For the Angoleiro, this resonates deeply with the jogo de dentro (the internal game) and the strategic retreat (saída). By disappearing from the center of attention, one forces the opponent (and the world) to perceive one’s return as a valuable and powerful event. The ginga—the continuous, fluid movement—is a constant presence and absence, a literal embodiment of this law.
- A Hypothetical 16th Law: Master the Art of the Subversive Game (The Angoleiro Context): If an Angoleiro were to pen a 16th law, it would undoubtedly center on malandragem. This term is difficult to translate directly but encompasses cunning, street-smarts, quick wit, and the ability to operate outside conventional rules. It is the power of the trickster, the subtle manipulator who wins not by confrontation, but by reading the rhythm and psychology of the opponent.
The Angoleiro’s Strategic Power: Malandragem and the Roda
For the Angoleiro, the ultimate laboratory for power is the roda—the circle where Capoeira is played.
- The Power of the Disfarce (Disguise/Feint): The Angoleiro operates on the principle that the most dangerous attack is the one that looks like a playful dance or a harmless movement. This is the essence of malandragem—never show your true intent. A smile and a slow, low movement can hide a devastating rasteira (sweep). This directly correlates with laws encouraging deception and masking one’s motives.
- The Power of Esquiva (Evasion): The ability to not be there when the blow lands is the highest form of defense. In the Angoleiro’s world, energy is conserved, and the opponent’s force is made to expend itself on empty air. This is a profound power—the power of not engaging, of allowing the aggressor to defeat themselves. It is the ultimate expression of the Law of Least Effort applied to conflict.
- The Power of the Tempo (Timing and Rhythm): An Angoleiro’s power is tied to their ability to control the rhythm of the game. They will slow the game down, hypnotize the opponent with their caxixi (rattles) and berimbau (musical bow), and then explode into action when the opponent’s attention wavers. Power is not just strength; it is the mastery of time—the strategic application of presence and absence to break the enemy’s concentration and balance.
Ultimately, the Angoleiro’s interpretation of a Law of Power is an internal one. It is the realization that the greatest power lies not in controlling others, but in controlling oneself, one’s intention, and one’s rhythm, making the external world an extension of one’s own subtle, subversive game. The true Angoleiro is the embodiment of fluid, resilient, and utterly unpredictable power.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 