What Is Politics?
Politics is the way in which countries are governed and the ways that governments make rules and laws to manage human society properly. The term may also refer to the political systems of organizations and other groups, such as clubs, schools, and churches.
Political science is the discipline that studies the institutions of politics and government at local, state, national, and international levels. It seeks to develop understandings of the practices and relations that constitute public life and promote citizenship. It is a subfield of sociology, history, economics, philosophy, and law.
One of the classic answers to the question, “What is politics?” is that it is the authoritative struggle for limited resources or precious rights and privileges within the context of a society’s political culture. This perspective reflects the traditional view of politics as an ongoing contestation over distributional claims. More recently, scholars have challenged this perspective by emphasizing the power of narratives and the role that ideology plays in forming policy preferences. This insight chimes with debates over polarization and the influence of fake news in shaping political preferences.
While the word politics carries a negative connotation, it can also be a legitimate and necessary struggle to resolve differences and advance collective interests. The struggle can take place in a variety of ways, depending on the social structure. In a democratic system, for example, political debate occurs through elected bodies that represent the population and negotiate solutions to problems. In the United States, these elected bodies include the House of Representatives and the Senate, where representatives serve two-year terms and the entire chamber goes up for re-election in even-numbered years. The Senate is composed of 100 members, with each state getting two senators regardless of its size.
In nondemocratic systems, the struggle takes place through elites or intermediaries who use their networks to gain access to authority and influence decisions. It can occur in the form of patronage, cronyism, and nepotism, among others. This practice can lead to corruption, which is the exploitation of powers for illegitimate personal gain or corporate profit. Examples of corruption include bribery, embezzlement, and kickbacks.
Organizational politics is the way that individuals and groups interact to pursue political goals in the workplace. When managed poorly, this process can result in conflict, distrust, and reduced productivity. In the best-managed environment, however, organizational politics can be a positive force for change. To succeed in this arena, employees need to align their work behavior with the organization’s values, be ethical in their interactions, and nurture creativity and innovation. This approach to managing organizational politics is sometimes called the High Ground. To navigate organizational politics effectively, it’s important to understand two critical dimensions: the level of political activity and the source of power. The higher the level of political activity, the more the organization must draw on its resources to accomplish its goals. The higher the source of power, the more it can be used to achieve goals and meet challenges.
Politics is the way in which countries are governed and the ways that governments make rules and laws to manage human society properly. The term may also refer to the political systems of organizations and other groups, such as clubs, schools, and churches. Political science is the discipline that studies the institutions of politics and government at local, state, national, and international levels. It seeks to develop understandings of the practices and relations that constitute public life and promote citizenship. It is a subfield of sociology, history, economics, philosophy, and law. One of the classic answers to the question, “What is politics?” is that it is the authoritative struggle for limited resources or precious rights and privileges within the context of a society’s political culture. This perspective reflects the traditional view of politics as an ongoing contestation over distributional claims. More recently, scholars have challenged this perspective by emphasizing the power of narratives and the role that ideology plays in forming policy preferences. This insight chimes with debates over polarization and the influence of fake news in shaping political preferences. While the word politics carries a negative connotation, it can also be a legitimate and necessary struggle to resolve differences and advance collective interests. The struggle can take place in a variety of ways, depending on the social structure. In a democratic system, for example, political debate occurs through elected bodies that represent the population and negotiate solutions to problems. In the United States, these elected bodies include the House of Representatives and the Senate, where representatives serve two-year terms and the entire chamber goes up for re-election in even-numbered years. The Senate is composed of 100 members, with each state getting two senators regardless of its size. In nondemocratic systems, the struggle takes place through elites or intermediaries who use their networks to gain access to authority and influence decisions. It can occur in the form of patronage, cronyism, and nepotism, among others. This practice can lead to corruption, which is the exploitation of powers for illegitimate personal gain or corporate profit. Examples of corruption include bribery, embezzlement, and kickbacks. Organizational politics is the way that individuals and groups interact to pursue political goals in the workplace. When managed poorly, this process can result in conflict, distrust, and reduced productivity. In the best-managed environment, however, organizational politics can be a positive force for change. To succeed in this arena, employees need to align their work behavior with the organization’s values, be ethical in their interactions, and nurture creativity and innovation. This approach to managing organizational politics is sometimes called the High Ground. To navigate organizational politics effectively, it’s important to understand two critical dimensions: the level of political activity and the source of power. The higher the level of political activity, the more the organization must draw on its resources to accomplish its goals. The higher the source of power, the more it can be used to achieve goals and meet challenges.