Define the Concept of Politics

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Politics is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the activities, actions, and policies used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence the government. It involves the negotiation and application of power among individuals, groups, and institutions to make collective decisions for a society. Politics is present in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, religious, and of course, governmental settings.

Harold D. Lasswell, a prominent political scientist, famously described politics in an economical and process-oriented way: "Who gets what, when, how." This description encapsulates the essence of politics by focusing on the distribution of resources, benefits, and privileges within a society. It also highlights the mechanisms of decision-making and the strategies employed to achieve certain outcomes.

Breaking down Lasswell's description:

1. "Who" refers to the individuals or groups involved in the political process. This includes politicians, government officials, lobbyists, interest groups, and the electorate—essentially, anyone who has a stake in or influence over political outcomes.

2. "Gets what" pertains to the stakes of political activity. This could be anything from tangible resources like money, land, or jobs, to intangible benefits like power, status, or legal rights. It's about the allocation of values and how society's rewards and sanctions are distributed among its members.

3. "When" addresses the timing of political outcomes. Political processes can be immediate or drawn out over time, and the timing can significantly affect the impact and reception of political decisions.

4. "How" speaks to the methods and tactics used to achieve political goals. This includes the processes of negotiation, legislation, enforcement, and the various forms of influence such as persuasion, coercion, or even corruption.

Incorporating Lasswell's description into a broader definition, politics can be understood as the ongoing negotiation and struggle over the distribution of power and resources within a community or society. It is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions and establish the rules and policies that govern their behavior, often mediated by institutions and structured by laws, customs, and power dynamics. Politics determines who has access to power and resources, the conditions under which they are distributed, and the means by which these distributions are carried out.

Define the Concept of Politics

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