What Is Politics?
Politics is all about making agreements between people who live in tribes, cities and countries. These agreements determine how public decisions are made and the distribution of resources and privileges. Politics is a subject that is widely studied in universities under the names of political science, government or public administration.
People often have divergent opinions about how things should be done, especially in large institutions like governments and corporations. When these differences get too big, the institution may come close to breaking. The field of politics aims to bring these views together so that institutions can function effectively, even in the face of conflicting perspectives and limited resources.
The way in which a person gets something in a polity is also a major area of interest for students of politics. How a person, group or organization gains power over others can make the difference between a prosperous and stable economy, a harmonious society and a tense and violent one.
As such, politicians are often found on the front lines of this conflict between different interests. They work to develop and implement laws that promote prosperity and social justice.
It is a noble profession, and one that requires a lot of critical thinking. Students who study politics will gain a variety of skills that can be applied to almost any career path they take down the road. Politics is a broad discipline, and a number of sub-topics can be explored in great depth by scholars and students alike.
How does a nation maintain its sovereignty while engaging in international trade and treaties? How can a country balance the needs of its citizens with the demands of its military and economic spheres? Politics answers these questions and more.
Politics studies how people organize and govern their societies, whether they live in a democracy, republic, dictatorship or some other type of government. It is a vital discipline that allows for the world’s economies to operate, key policies to be implemented and global challenges to be addressed.
Niccolo Machiavelli wrote in his 1532 book, The Prince, that “politics is the art of getting and keeping power.” Thomas Hobbes, who wrote Leviathan in 1651, described it as “the struggle for power over other men.”
In the United States, we are a democracy where voters decide who runs and makes laws. The government is divided into three distinct branches: a bicameral legislative branch, led by Congress; an executive branch headed by the president; and a judicial branch that operates as the Supreme Court.
Politics is the authoritative and legitimate struggle for limited resources or precious rights and privileges within the context of government, the economy and society. It is a complex set of interactions that affects billions of people around the world, and it is through this system that many of our most pressing issues are addressed. Without it, our society would be in constant chaos. This is what makes it so important that we continue to invest in its study and practice.
Politics is all about making agreements between people who live in tribes, cities and countries. These agreements determine how public decisions are made and the distribution of resources and privileges. Politics is a subject that is widely studied in universities under the names of political science, government or public administration. People often have divergent opinions about how things should be done, especially in large institutions like governments and corporations. When these differences get too big, the institution may come close to breaking. The field of politics aims to bring these views together so that institutions can function effectively, even in the face of conflicting perspectives and limited resources. The way in which a person gets something in a polity is also a major area of interest for students of politics. How a person, group or organization gains power over others can make the difference between a prosperous and stable economy, a harmonious society and a tense and violent one. As such, politicians are often found on the front lines of this conflict between different interests. They work to develop and implement laws that promote prosperity and social justice. It is a noble profession, and one that requires a lot of critical thinking. Students who study politics will gain a variety of skills that can be applied to almost any career path they take down the road. Politics is a broad discipline, and a number of sub-topics can be explored in great depth by scholars and students alike. How does a nation maintain its sovereignty while engaging in international trade and treaties? How can a country balance the needs of its citizens with the demands of its military and economic spheres? Politics answers these questions and more. Politics studies how people organize and govern their societies, whether they live in a democracy, republic, dictatorship or some other type of government. It is a vital discipline that allows for the world’s economies to operate, key policies to be implemented and global challenges to be addressed. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote in his 1532 book, The Prince, that “politics is the art of getting and keeping power.” Thomas Hobbes, who wrote Leviathan in 1651, described it as “the struggle for power over other men.” In the United States, we are a democracy where voters decide who runs and makes laws. The government is divided into three distinct branches: a bicameral legislative branch, led by Congress; an executive branch headed by the president; and a judicial branch that operates as the Supreme Court. Politics is the authoritative and legitimate struggle for limited resources or precious rights and privileges within the context of government, the economy and society. It is a complex set of interactions that affects billions of people around the world, and it is through this system that many of our most pressing issues are addressed. Without it, our society would be in constant chaos. This is what makes it so important that we continue to invest in its study and practice.