The Importance of Politics
Politics is a huge field that has the power to influence the lives of billions of people across the globe. It is how societies continue to operate, key policies are implemented and global challenges tackled. Whether a country chooses to adopt a democratic, federal, communist or dictatorial approach to government, it is through politics that these countries are able to bring their citizens together and reach a consensus about how things should be done.
The study of politics is often referred to as political science, public affairs or government and is a subject that is often chosen as a GCSE, A Level or undergraduate degree by those interested in studying the workings of a nation state. Politics is a complicated area of study that takes in everything from the way governments make decisions to how different social and cultural groups interact politically.
It is important for individuals to know about the political landscape in which they live and operate because it shapes their experiences of the world around them. This is especially true for those who work in the field of international development, where it is essential to understand how the various systems of government can be used to support economic growth and address other important issues affecting poorer communities.
Politics has existed as long as humans have faced scarcity, have had differing beliefs and preferences, and have needed to find ways of resolving these differences while allocating scarce resources. As such, it is an integral part of the human experience and will exist forever.
Those who choose to study Politics as a subject are usually fascinated by the different processes that can be employed to bring diverse opinions and ideas into consensus. This can be through elections, debates, lobbies and demonstrations, but also more subtle processes such as the way in which a text is read, film or art exhibition is experienced.
For example, if someone tries to read a book that is banned in their home country, they are engaging in an act of political defiance. The same could be said for anyone who tries to evade taxes or break laws – all of which are political acts.
In the UK, for example, local councils have some devolved powers (such as law making and taxation) from central government in Westminster while the other devolved bodies – such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and local authorities within England – have other areas of responsibility including public services and health. Similarly, in the US, the states each have some decision making power, while the federal government looks after other matters such as foreign policy, immigration and minting money. The country is also made up of a number of inter-state alliances. These include the European Union, the Organization for American States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. This is a form of political globalization. These international institutions are designed to encourage cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes between states. This can help prevent the kind of military conflict that led to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Politics is a huge field that has the power to influence the lives of billions of people across the globe. It is how societies continue to operate, key policies are implemented and global challenges tackled. Whether a country chooses to adopt a democratic, federal, communist or dictatorial approach to government, it is through politics that these countries are able to bring their citizens together and reach a consensus about how things should be done. The study of politics is often referred to as political science, public affairs or government and is a subject that is often chosen as a GCSE, A Level or undergraduate degree by those interested in studying the workings of a nation state. Politics is a complicated area of study that takes in everything from the way governments make decisions to how different social and cultural groups interact politically. It is important for individuals to know about the political landscape in which they live and operate because it shapes their experiences of the world around them. This is especially true for those who work in the field of international development, where it is essential to understand how the various systems of government can be used to support economic growth and address other important issues affecting poorer communities. Politics has existed as long as humans have faced scarcity, have had differing beliefs and preferences, and have needed to find ways of resolving these differences while allocating scarce resources. As such, it is an integral part of the human experience and will exist forever. Those who choose to study Politics as a subject are usually fascinated by the different processes that can be employed to bring diverse opinions and ideas into consensus. This can be through elections, debates, lobbies and demonstrations, but also more subtle processes such as the way in which a text is read, film or art exhibition is experienced. For example, if someone tries to read a book that is banned in their home country, they are engaging in an act of political defiance. The same could be said for anyone who tries to evade taxes or break laws – all of which are political acts. In the UK, for example, local councils have some devolved powers (such as law making and taxation) from central government in Westminster while the other devolved bodies – such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and local authorities within England – have other areas of responsibility including public services and health. Similarly, in the US, the states each have some decision making power, while the federal government looks after other matters such as foreign policy, immigration and minting money. The country is also made up of a number of inter-state alliances. These include the European Union, the Organization for American States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. This is a form of political globalization. These international institutions are designed to encourage cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes between states. This can help prevent the kind of military conflict that led to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.