What Is Politics?
Politics is the way people make agreements to live together in groups such as tribes, cities or countries. People who spend a lot of time in politics are called politicians and they often work in government. The study of politics in universities is called political science, public affairs, government or political studies.
Politicians may use a variety of methods to achieve their goals, including promoting their ideas among the population, negotiating with other politicians and putting internal pressures on their political organization. They may also use external force or violence to influence their opponents and the wider community. Politicians may be active at local, state or national levels and in organisations as diverse as schools, businesses or religious groups.
People have long debated the nature of politics, with ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle arguing about it. The idea of politics has influenced a wide range of writers, from Niccolo Machiavelli’s 1532 book The Prince to Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 book Leviathan and John Stuart Mill’s 19th Century liberal idea of the social contract.
There is a broad spectrum of definitions of politics, from very narrow to very broad. Some define it as the exercise of power, while others argue that any activity that is social, involves two or more people and is motivated by self-interest can be considered political. Some suggest that all forms of violence are part of politics, while others say they should be kept out of the realms of political life.
The political world can seem complicated and confusing. Many people feel that they are not well informed about the issues, and a majority of Americans have little or no confidence in their own political wisdom. In some parts of the world, there is a growing recognition that it is important for governments to work with citizens to develop the solutions to the most pressing challenges.
Professionals often fall into one of two camps about office politics: the majority think that politicking is all about scheming, manipulation and general crooked behaviour; a minority believe that it is an important tool for getting things done in the workplace. Regardless of the view, it is widely acknowledged that political skill can be an asset in business.
Political skill is the ability to manipulate other people, especially in a workplace environment. The concept has been widely studied, with researchers identifying a range of sub-skills, including being able to be truthful and trustworthy, being able to read other people, and the ability to be persuasive. The research has found that those with higher political skills are generally more likely to be successful in their careers, and are able to achieve more at work. This has led to a growing interest in developing tools to assess and enhance an individual’s political skills. The research is ongoing and is expected to lead to the development of a number of practical and useful tools for measuring and improving political skills.
Politics is the way people make agreements to live together in groups such as tribes, cities or countries. People who spend a lot of time in politics are called politicians and they often work in government. The study of politics in universities is called political science, public affairs, government or political studies. Politicians may use a variety of methods to achieve their goals, including promoting their ideas among the population, negotiating with other politicians and putting internal pressures on their political organization. They may also use external force or violence to influence their opponents and the wider community. Politicians may be active at local, state or national levels and in organisations as diverse as schools, businesses or religious groups. People have long debated the nature of politics, with ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle arguing about it. The idea of politics has influenced a wide range of writers, from Niccolo Machiavelli’s 1532 book The Prince to Thomas Hobbes’ 1651 book Leviathan and John Stuart Mill’s 19th Century liberal idea of the social contract. There is a broad spectrum of definitions of politics, from very narrow to very broad. Some define it as the exercise of power, while others argue that any activity that is social, involves two or more people and is motivated by self-interest can be considered political. Some suggest that all forms of violence are part of politics, while others say they should be kept out of the realms of political life. The political world can seem complicated and confusing. Many people feel that they are not well informed about the issues, and a majority of Americans have little or no confidence in their own political wisdom. In some parts of the world, there is a growing recognition that it is important for governments to work with citizens to develop the solutions to the most pressing challenges. Professionals often fall into one of two camps about office politics: the majority think that politicking is all about scheming, manipulation and general crooked behaviour; a minority believe that it is an important tool for getting things done in the workplace. Regardless of the view, it is widely acknowledged that political skill can be an asset in business. Political skill is the ability to manipulate other people, especially in a workplace environment. The concept has been widely studied, with researchers identifying a range of sub-skills, including being able to be truthful and trustworthy, being able to read other people, and the ability to be persuasive. The research has found that those with higher political skills are generally more likely to be successful in their careers, and are able to achieve more at work. This has led to a growing interest in developing tools to assess and enhance an individual’s political skills. The research is ongoing and is expected to lead to the development of a number of practical and useful tools for measuring and improving political skills.