A well-known personality in American business and politics, Paul Manafort is well-known for his lobbying and political campaign contributions. One of his well-known quotes discusses how people or groups join an organization or establishment.

According to Manafort's observation, a person's identity as a member of the establishment is cemented through their acceptance and involvement in the system. This concept is comparable to joining a club in that you are officially recognized as a member once you begin to abide by its rules, show up to meetings, and take part in events. In a similar vein, people are regarded as belonging to an organization when they share its objectives, principles, and standards.

Manafort's assertion emphasizes how institutions are dynamic and change as a result of their members' active participation. It implies that being a part of something greater than oneself entails actively interacting with it in order to both shape and be shaped by it, rather than merely accepting its existence. This idea emphasizes how people and the systems they support are intertwined, showing that influence within an organization stems from a mutually reinforcing relationship in which both parties shape each other's identities.

By interpreting Manafort's quotation in this light, we can see how intricately institutional dynamics and personal involvement interact to shape not only individual roles but also larger societal structures.