What is Politics and its importance
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Politics involves making decisions that reconcile differing interests within a community. It arises when a group of people must choose a common policy but have mutually exclusive alternatives. While often viewed negatively, politics aims to achieve the common good by conciliating diverse interests through compromise and respect, as a particular civilizing way to address such political predicaments.
What is Politics and its importance
- 2. OOvveerrvviieeww • Why should we study politics? –Defining Politics –Politics as but only one means to an end (but an important one) –Definition of a political predicament –An answer to the question: Is politics good or bad?
- 3. DDeeffiinniittiioonnss • Politics involves making common decisions for a group of people. • It is the activity by which differing interests within a given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and survival of the whole community.
- 4. Whhaatt iiss PPoolliittiiccss?? Man is a political animal - Aristotle • If this is true, then politics is not only prevalent in our lives, but inevitable. • We must understand politics to meaningfully participate in it.
- 5. ““WWhhoo ggeettss wwhhaatt,, wwhheenn aanndd hhooww..”” • Politics arises… …because of the need to make decisions… …in the face of diversity… …and in the context of complexity.
- 6. TThhee CCoonncciilliiaattiioonn ooff IInntteerreessttss • Politics is a complex activity. • When interests are uniform, there are no politics. • “The unique character of political activity lies…in its publicity.” • People cannot opt out of politics. • Politics presupposes an established order.
- 7. Is politics the only way to conciliate interests? • Certainly, there are many ways to reconcile differences. • Politics is a particular way of reconciling differences. –Tolerance, respect, support and compromise are the language of politics. – Politics itself admits differences.
- 8. Whheenn ttoo rreessoorrtt ttoo ppoolliittiiccss?? A Political Predicament arises when: 1.) A given set of persons require a common policy. 2.) These people submit mutually exclusive alternatives.
- 9. IIss ppoolliittiiccss ggoooodd oorr bbaadd?? • More often than not, politics is viewed with derision. • However, as politics entails the conciliation of diverse interests, its natural object is the common good. Aristotle: “Politics is the Master Science.”
- 10. SSuummmmaarryy • Politics is the conciliation of diverse interests in society • Politics is a particular way of reconciling differences: it is a civilizing activity. • Political predicaments arise when decisions have to be made and alternative solutions are mutually exclusive.
- 11. Summary • Politics is meant to achieve the common good. • Politics: Aristotle’s Master Science.
- 12. - end -
Editor's Notes
- #2: Learning Objectives: 1.) To clearly define what politics is about as a distinctly human activity and to deepen our appreciation for politics. 2.) To discern the proper locus, purpose, need and use for politics. 3.) To distinguish politics as but one means of achieving particular ends. 4.) To identify the conditions when politics becomes necessary. 5.) To offer an answer to the question: is politics good or bad?
- #4: In other words, the proper object of politics is the common good. Differences + Conciliation = Common Good
- #5: Politics arises out the human condition; hence, it is incumbent upon us to understand politics. “In modern society, politics is ubiquitous.” S.E. Finer
- #6: Decisions Clearly, the decisions that involve politics impinge upon the welfare of a group of people Diversity The people who will be affected by the decision necessarily have their own ideas as to what the decision should be. Complexity In terms of the relationship between the principals/agents Their relationships have developed in such a manner that there is no easy way to reconcile their diverse interests This is why politics becomes important: “Politics arises from accepting the fact of different interests and different traditions, within a territorial unit under a common rule.” Crick p. 18
- #7: Note also that politics is properly located in society. Strictly speaking, politics is confined to the state. However, we can relax our conception of politics somewhat to see it in other areas.
- #8: “Diverse groups hold together, firstly, because they have a common interest in sheer survival and, secondly, because they practice politics.” Crick, p. 24
- #9: Taken from S.E. Finer. The first characteristic is what defines the situation as a predicament. The second one gives it its political color.
- #10: Politics sets the other sciences in order as far as their claims on resources are concerned.