What Is Politics?
Politics is the study of how countries are governed. It is the process of achieving government policies and positions by engaging in debate, discussion, lobbying and campaigning. Politics includes activities such as voting, demonstrations and petitioning. It also includes the decisions and actions of governments, local authorities and organisations like companies, schools and charities. In the UK, politics is led by the central government, which includes the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There are also local, regional and national governments in other countries. In addition to the formal political institutions, there are other sources of politics such as family and community, churches and other organisations.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some different definitions of politics, from narrow to broad understandings of the concept. We’ll then challenge whether all of these definitions are based on certain normative assumptions about difference and conflict.
Niccolo Machiavelli wrote that politics is all about gaining and maintaining power. He believed that without power, a politician can do nothing. Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 book Leviathan further developed this idea, writing that a politician’s most fundamental goal is to maintain order in society by preventing people from breaking laws.
More recently, many have challenged these ideas about politics. For example, it has been argued that the first definition of politics, which refers to ‘that which concerns the state’, is too narrow. It excludes or overlooks a great many other activities, actors and spaces that can be political, such as animal rights movements or boycott campaigns.
Agonist definitions of politics share some things in common with Crick and Heywood’s, such as the assumption that differences and conflicts are a natural part of life and that politics offers us a way to live with them. However, they differ in that agonists place greater emphasis on the desirable and productive aspects of conflict and difference.
Many people believe that they are too busy to care about politics, or that politicians are corrupt and do not represent them. However, it is essential to have a well-functioning democracy, and in order to protect the public interest, we must participate in politics. This can be done through direct engagement with the government, as well as through the media and other organisations such as NGOs.
In this audio, Ivor Gaber talks to four people – Iain Stewart, Matthew Parris, Bianca Todd and Ailsa Craig – about their views on what politics is and why it matters. Click on their photos below to hear their answers.
Politics is the study of how countries are governed. It is the process of achieving government policies and positions by engaging in debate, discussion, lobbying and campaigning. Politics includes activities such as voting, demonstrations and petitioning. It also includes the decisions and actions of governments, local authorities and organisations like companies, schools and charities. In the UK, politics is led by the central government, which includes the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There are also local, regional and national governments in other countries. In addition to the formal political institutions, there are other sources of politics such as family and community, churches and other organisations. In this article, we’ll take a look at some different definitions of politics, from narrow to broad understandings of the concept. We’ll then challenge whether all of these definitions are based on certain normative assumptions about difference and conflict. Niccolo Machiavelli wrote that politics is all about gaining and maintaining power. He believed that without power, a politician can do nothing. Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 book Leviathan further developed this idea, writing that a politician’s most fundamental goal is to maintain order in society by preventing people from breaking laws. More recently, many have challenged these ideas about politics. For example, it has been argued that the first definition of politics, which refers to ‘that which concerns the state’, is too narrow. It excludes or overlooks a great many other activities, actors and spaces that can be political, such as animal rights movements or boycott campaigns. Agonist definitions of politics share some things in common with Crick and Heywood’s, such as the assumption that differences and conflicts are a natural part of life and that politics offers us a way to live with them. However, they differ in that agonists place greater emphasis on the desirable and productive aspects of conflict and difference. Many people believe that they are too busy to care about politics, or that politicians are corrupt and do not represent them. However, it is essential to have a well-functioning democracy, and in order to protect the public interest, we must participate in politics. This can be done through direct engagement with the government, as well as through the media and other organisations such as NGOs. In this audio, Ivor Gaber talks to four people – Iain Stewart, Matthew Parris, Bianca Todd and Ailsa Craig – about their views on what politics is and why it matters. Click on their photos below to hear their answers.