The Academic Field of Politics
Politics is the process of making and changing laws that govern a society. It includes the study of how power is distributed in societies, and how individuals seek to influence decisions that impact their lives. The academic field of Politics explores these questions through studies of government, public policy, and political institutions at the local, national, and international levels.
One classic view of politics sees it as a contest between interests over the distribution of material goods. In this view, politicians choose policies that best allocate resources among competing interest groups. Often, a compromise solution can be found that satisfies most parties. But at other times, the result is a policy that heavily favors one group over another.
More recently, scholars have challenged this characterization of politics. For example, political scientists have emphasized the importance of how policy problems are framed. The way in which issues are framed shapes people’s perceptions of how problems should be solved. This recognition of the importance of narratives chimes with debates on ‘fake news’ and highlights how political groups frame policy problems in ways that appeal to their followers’ deep-rooted values and beliefs.
Another challenge to this characterization of politics is that it ignores the fact that many political actors are motivated by more than their rational assessment of different policies. Rather, many are motivated by the desire to belong to a political community that shares their values and believes in the same things. This sense of belonging is called in-group bias. Research shows that people tend to favor policies favored by their in-groups and reject those favored by out-groups.
As a result, even when policies may be objectively better for the whole population, in-group biases can drive people to support them. This explains why partisanship is so pervasive. Politicians and the media play a role in reinforcing this polarization by demonizing opposing candidates or by claiming that other groups are to blame for America’s problems. This polarization also varies across income levels.
Political participation is a key component of democracy. Individuals who participate in political activities are more likely to feel that their voice is heard and that the political system is responsive to them. Political involvement can take the form of voting, joining a political party, or getting involved in advocacy initiatives. Mild political engagement has a positive effect on life satisfaction, while heavy involvement can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and alienation.
Politics is the process of making and changing laws that govern a society. It includes the study of how power is distributed in societies, and how individuals seek to influence decisions that impact their lives. The academic field of Politics explores these questions through studies of government, public policy, and political institutions at the local, national, and international levels. One classic view of politics sees it as a contest between interests over the distribution of material goods. In this view, politicians choose policies that best allocate resources among competing interest groups. Often, a compromise solution can be found that satisfies most parties. But at other times, the result is a policy that heavily favors one group over another. More recently, scholars have challenged this characterization of politics. For example, political scientists have emphasized the importance of how policy problems are framed. The way in which issues are framed shapes people’s perceptions of how problems should be solved. This recognition of the importance of narratives chimes with debates on ‘fake news’ and highlights how political groups frame policy problems in ways that appeal to their followers’ deep-rooted values and beliefs. Another challenge to this characterization of politics is that it ignores the fact that many political actors are motivated by more than their rational assessment of different policies. Rather, many are motivated by the desire to belong to a political community that shares their values and believes in the same things. This sense of belonging is called in-group bias. Research shows that people tend to favor policies favored by their in-groups and reject those favored by out-groups. As a result, even when policies may be objectively better for the whole population, in-group biases can drive people to support them. This explains why partisanship is so pervasive. Politicians and the media play a role in reinforcing this polarization by demonizing opposing candidates or by claiming that other groups are to blame for America’s problems. This polarization also varies across income levels. Political participation is a key component of democracy. Individuals who participate in political activities are more likely to feel that their voice is heard and that the political system is responsive to them. Political involvement can take the form of voting, joining a political party, or getting involved in advocacy initiatives. Mild political engagement has a positive effect on life satisfaction, while heavy involvement can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and alienation.