A new book, MIN JGĦIDU N-NIES LI JIEN – IL-FAQAR TAL-PATERNALIŻMU (who do people say i am - The poverty of paternalism) , written by Mark Montebello,  is being launched at FORTRESS BUILDERS Valletta on Thursday 16  March at 7.30pm. There will be a public discussion chaired by Dr  Clive Zammit with the participation of Gabi Calleja,  Dr Mario Vella and the author. The book explores paternalism from all sides. It discusses paternalism on an interpersonal level as much as on the intitutional and legal levels. The book examines how we come in contact with paternalism , what is the origin and justification of paternalism, the poverty of paternalism  and how paternalism can be countered .

Paternalism is basically when someone treats others like irresponsible and immature infants. It can be a father with his children, the husband with his wife, a girl with her boyfriend, an employer with his employees, a department head with his workers, a superior with his subjects, a magistrate with arraigned persons, a doctor with patients, a priest with his parishoners, and the like. It can also be on an institutional level, a government with its citizens, a bank with its clients, a company with its customers, so on and so forth. Everyone is in the danger of becoming a victim of paternalism as much as everyone can treat others paternistically.

In all these cases, the paternalist person assumes an attitude with which he or she decides for others without their consent, or represents others without consulting them. The paternalist assumes that he or she knows more than his or her victims how they should live out their lives, what decisions they should take, what constitutes their happiness, what personal identity they should adopt, and what future best suits them.

In the last reckoning paternalism is a question of control, manipulation and exploitation.

The book, in Maltese, presents a complex and difficult issue in easy terms, simple language, and with many examples. It also carries a number of illustrations and graphs which explain the theme for effectively. Highlighted quotations give the subject better clarification.

The main message of the book (SKS Publishers) is to provide means of recognising paternalism in its different guises, and, possibly, fight it back.

Entrance free of charge. Proceedings in Maltese.