What Is Politics?
Politics is about making agreements so that people can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, and countries. When the group is large enough, these agreements become laws and policies. People who spend much of their time negotiating and seeking to enforce political agreements are called politicians. Politics may also refer to the study of government or of political institutions. It can be narrowly defined to include the activities of governments or politicians, or it can be broader in scope to include the interrelationships between people in all areas of life.
The word politics derives from the Greek term polity (
In the United States, most citizens are involved in politics to some extent. They vote in elections to select a representative to represent them at the local, state or national level. They also become involved in a variety of other political activities, such as protesting, writing letters to their representatives and engaging in social media activism. Some are active participants in a political party, while others do not participate at all.
Many people believe that politics is a chaotic and painful struggle between entrenched interests. While some politicians are able to craft solutions that satisfy most interests, other politicians create solutions that grossly favor one interest over another. The majority of Americans feel that the most important problem with politics today is that politicians are so busy trying to defeat each other, they are unable to focus on solving real problems for their constituents.
A broader definition of politics can incorporate less observable ways that power is exercised, such as the contestation over how issues are framed or narrated. This recognition of the importance of narratives chimes with current debates about “fake news” and how this can influence public opinion on policy issues.
The field of politics is so complex that it has been studied in many different disciplines, including sociology, history, economics, law, and philosophy. The most prominent subfields are governmental studies, public affairs and political science. A specialized subfield of politics is political economy, which examines the relationships between the varying aspects of politics. These include the ways that power, money, and resources are influenced by the structure of a given society or culture, as well as how these influences impact the outcomes of political decisions. It has also been studied using quantitative methods, such as survey research and experimental techniques. Political science is a growing and evolving field, with new trends and theories being constantly developed. These trends and theories can have a significant effect on the practical application of politics in everyday life.
Politics is about making agreements so that people can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, and countries. When the group is large enough, these agreements become laws and policies. People who spend much of their time negotiating and seeking to enforce political agreements are called politicians. Politics may also refer to the study of government or of political institutions. It can be narrowly defined to include the activities of governments or politicians, or it can be broader in scope to include the interrelationships between people in all areas of life. The word politics derives from the Greek term polity (), which refers to the administration of a city. It has been used in English since the 15th century. Modern scholars have debated the meaning of this term. Some have interpreted it to mean the art of maneuvering to assert rival interests, while others have viewed it as more of a process of conflict and co-operation. It is an essential part of any societal organization, and it involves a variety of activities, from lobbying to demonstrations. In the United States, most citizens are involved in politics to some extent. They vote in elections to select a representative to represent them at the local, state or national level. They also become involved in a variety of other political activities, such as protesting, writing letters to their representatives and engaging in social media activism. Some are active participants in a political party, while others do not participate at all. Many people believe that politics is a chaotic and painful struggle between entrenched interests. While some politicians are able to craft solutions that satisfy most interests, other politicians create solutions that grossly favor one interest over another. The majority of Americans feel that the most important problem with politics today is that politicians are so busy trying to defeat each other, they are unable to focus on solving real problems for their constituents. A broader definition of politics can incorporate less observable ways that power is exercised, such as the contestation over how issues are framed or narrated. This recognition of the importance of narratives chimes with current debates about “fake news” and how this can influence public opinion on policy issues. The field of politics is so complex that it has been studied in many different disciplines, including sociology, history, economics, law, and philosophy. The most prominent subfields are governmental studies, public affairs and political science. A specialized subfield of politics is political economy, which examines the relationships between the varying aspects of politics. These include the ways that power, money, and resources are influenced by the structure of a given society or culture, as well as how these influences impact the outcomes of political decisions. It has also been studied using quantitative methods, such as survey research and experimental techniques. Political science is a growing and evolving field, with new trends and theories being constantly developed. These trends and theories can have a significant effect on the practical application of politics in everyday life.