What Is Politics?
Politics is the study of how people organize to govern themselves, their societies, and their countries. It is often viewed as a subset of the wider field of social science, although it differs from other areas in that its focus is on power (defined as the ability of one person or group to influence others’ actions) and political institutions rather than on economics or other aspects of society. The term is also used to refer to a specific activity, such as campaigning for office or debating controversial issues.
Political science is a branch of the social sciences, and it borrows heavily from other disciplines such as sociology, history, and economics. Yet it is distinguished by its focus on politics, and its use of the terms “political science” and “political action” are distinct from those of other social sciences. Political science is sometimes referred to in French and Spanish as “science politique” or “ciencias pol
A classic answer to the question of what politics is about centers on the idea that it essentially concerns settling contestation over the distribution of material resources, and that it is most readily understood in the context of a left-right ideological cleavage. However, it has become increasingly clear in recent decades that this characterisation of politics is too narrow, as many of the major policy issues of our time are less easily categorised as left or right and are instead more rooted in identity and culture than in material wealth.
In most modern democracies, politicians are popularly elected by their constituents to serve in a legislature or government agency. This process is usually overseen by a constitutional framework which establishes the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the state, ensuring checks and balances over the exercise of power. The United States is a prime example, with the Constitution creating a federal republic and presidential system with a bicameral Congress, a Cabinet and President, and an independent Supreme Court that exercises judicial power.
Whether they are involved in local community politics, lobbying for changes to legislation or voting in elections, citizens are engaged in political activities on a daily basis. This can be a good thing, as research shows that it is often beneficial for individual well-being to have a stake in the decisions that affect them. On the other hand, numerous surveys have shown that a large proportion of Americans believe that current political events take a toll on their health and mental well-being, with some reporting loss of sleep, stress, anger or resentment, or difficulty controlling their impulses (such as posting intemperate social media comments). These effects are typically more prevalent among those who are particularly active participants in political life. A number of scholars have proposed that this is because the current political environment is more polarized than in the past and thus more likely to trigger emotional responses. Further, they argue that this polarization is exacerbated by the increasing speed and magnitude of globalization.
Politics is the study of how people organize to govern themselves, their societies, and their countries. It is often viewed as a subset of the wider field of social science, although it differs from other areas in that its focus is on power (defined as the ability of one person or group to influence others’ actions) and political institutions rather than on economics or other aspects of society. The term is also used to refer to a specific activity, such as campaigning for office or debating controversial issues. Political science is a branch of the social sciences, and it borrows heavily from other disciplines such as sociology, history, and economics. Yet it is distinguished by its focus on politics, and its use of the terms “political science” and “political action” are distinct from those of other social sciences. Political science is sometimes referred to in French and Spanish as “science politique” or “ciencias polticas”, respectively, but the term is not universally accepted. A classic answer to the question of what politics is about centers on the idea that it essentially concerns settling contestation over the distribution of material resources, and that it is most readily understood in the context of a left-right ideological cleavage. However, it has become increasingly clear in recent decades that this characterisation of politics is too narrow, as many of the major policy issues of our time are less easily categorised as left or right and are instead more rooted in identity and culture than in material wealth. In most modern democracies, politicians are popularly elected by their constituents to serve in a legislature or government agency. This process is usually overseen by a constitutional framework which establishes the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the state, ensuring checks and balances over the exercise of power. The United States is a prime example, with the Constitution creating a federal republic and presidential system with a bicameral Congress, a Cabinet and President, and an independent Supreme Court that exercises judicial power. Whether they are involved in local community politics, lobbying for changes to legislation or voting in elections, citizens are engaged in political activities on a daily basis. This can be a good thing, as research shows that it is often beneficial for individual well-being to have a stake in the decisions that affect them. On the other hand, numerous surveys have shown that a large proportion of Americans believe that current political events take a toll on their health and mental well-being, with some reporting loss of sleep, stress, anger or resentment, or difficulty controlling their impulses (such as posting intemperate social media comments). These effects are typically more prevalent among those who are particularly active participants in political life. A number of scholars have proposed that this is because the current political environment is more polarized than in the past and thus more likely to trigger emotional responses. Further, they argue that this polarization is exacerbated by the increasing speed and magnitude of globalization.