What Is Politics?
Politics is the activity of people who try to influence and control the direction of a group or society. Political scientists study the processes and practices that constitute politics at all levels, from local to international. The term can be broad or narrowly defined; some scholars believe that all human behavior is politically motivated.
Niccolo Machiavelli, in his 1532 book The Prince, wrote that politics is first about having and keeping power. He said that a ruler must have the power to assert and defend his interests, but he also must be able to recognize other groups’ interests and balance them against his own. This view of politics led to the idea that a social contract is formed between the leader and the governed, with each party giving up some rights in exchange for protections from the other. This concept gave rise to democracy in the 1800s.
Some academics define politics more broadly to include all efforts to influence the rules, laws and policies of a society or an organization. This broader definition of politics allows the word to be used to describe activities as diverse as protesting the current definition of marriage or lobbying for tax breaks. It would not, however, include family or office politics, since these efforts do not change the status quo but rather simply endorse and conserve that which exists.
A more modest definition of politics could include only those activities that directly challenge or threaten the present state of affairs. This would exclude activities such as reading a banned book, attending an art exhibition or going to a football game, all of which may have an effect on the opinions of others but do not alter the prevailing conditions.
If narrowly defined, politics refers only to the competition for power within a community, the country or the world. The competition takes place through formal channels, such as election campaigns and legislatures, or informal ones such as the exchange of bribes. The competition can be violent or nonviolent, but it always involves manoeuvring to assert competing interests.
The most important part of any definition of politics is the way in which it relates to the distribution of resources and access to rights and privileges. This is why political scientists are interested in the processes through which people acquire things in a polity, whether those things are government programs, societal resources or even something as banal as tax breaks.
Many people have negative views of office politics, viewing it as a process of scheming and manipulation that is unseemly and unfair. This view is misguided. Studies by business schools and employers have shown that those who have high levels of political skill in the workplace are more likely to achieve their goals and get ahead. Refusing to engage in office politics is a recipe for failure, both professionally and personally. It is far better to use your political skills to achieve positive results for yourself and those around you.
Politics is the activity of people who try to influence and control the direction of a group or society. Political scientists study the processes and practices that constitute politics at all levels, from local to international. The term can be broad or narrowly defined; some scholars believe that all human behavior is politically motivated. Niccolo Machiavelli, in his 1532 book The Prince, wrote that politics is first about having and keeping power. He said that a ruler must have the power to assert and defend his interests, but he also must be able to recognize other groups’ interests and balance them against his own. This view of politics led to the idea that a social contract is formed between the leader and the governed, with each party giving up some rights in exchange for protections from the other. This concept gave rise to democracy in the 1800s. Some academics define politics more broadly to include all efforts to influence the rules, laws and policies of a society or an organization. This broader definition of politics allows the word to be used to describe activities as diverse as protesting the current definition of marriage or lobbying for tax breaks. It would not, however, include family or office politics, since these efforts do not change the status quo but rather simply endorse and conserve that which exists. A more modest definition of politics could include only those activities that directly challenge or threaten the present state of affairs. This would exclude activities such as reading a banned book, attending an art exhibition or going to a football game, all of which may have an effect on the opinions of others but do not alter the prevailing conditions. If narrowly defined, politics refers only to the competition for power within a community, the country or the world. The competition takes place through formal channels, such as election campaigns and legislatures, or informal ones such as the exchange of bribes. The competition can be violent or nonviolent, but it always involves manoeuvring to assert competing interests. The most important part of any definition of politics is the way in which it relates to the distribution of resources and access to rights and privileges. This is why political scientists are interested in the processes through which people acquire things in a polity, whether those things are government programs, societal resources or even something as banal as tax breaks. Many people have negative views of office politics, viewing it as a process of scheming and manipulation that is unseemly and unfair. This view is misguided. Studies by business schools and employers have shown that those who have high levels of political skill in the workplace are more likely to achieve their goals and get ahead. Refusing to engage in office politics is a recipe for failure, both professionally and personally. It is far better to use your political skills to achieve positive results for yourself and those around you.