Politics Essay -- essays research papers

Politics: the inescapable stalker of our society Politics is a process by which a group of people, whose opinions or interests might be divergent, reach collective decisions that are generally regarded as binding on the group and enforced as common policy. Political theory or political philosophy is as old as the oldest civilisations. The Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato, developed important political theories and methods of government alongside their more abstract philosophies. One may contest that every society and every belief we hold is a reflection of the political system we live under. Politics, in it absolute form, is a concept of society that definitely intrudes into every aspect of human life. No one can escape it. The word politics comes from the Greek word â€Å"polis†, meaning the state or community as a whole. The concept of the â€Å"polis† was an ideal state and came from the writings of great political thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. In his novel "The Republic", Plato describes the ideal state and the means to achieve it. Hence, the word politics originally has connotations in the ways in which to create the ideal society. An ideal society is in practice a rather difficult aim and even an impossible aim to achieve. Imperfections in society inspired Aristotle and Plato to compose the first written political philosophies. In Aristotle's â€Å"The Politics†, he states that, â€Å"Man is by nature a political animal†, in another words, it is a primal instinct of man. Therefore, in his statement, Aristotle concludes politics is not a dreamt up concept, but rather an inherent feature of mankind. Argument, in our lives and about the way that we live t hem is a fundamental part of our sociological make-up. A main factor in modern government is what is dubbed â€Å"Party Politics†. Each party with its manifesto attempts to gain parliamentary superiority over others in each general election. People vote for the party that broadly represents the individual's values. Although, the average turnout for elections The most common method of categorising political theories is by use of a horizontal line from right to left (the far and moderate right, the right of centre, the centre and the left of centre, the moderate left, and the far left) gradually. What follows is an attempt to clarify this contentious issue of categorisation. It is not a defin... ...onflict and change. Politics is the means to creating a more organised and peaceful society, by providing methods to resolve conflict that naturally occurs in society. From this, politics also endeavours to further society to perfection and to create an absolute harmony between the ruling body and the populace. It thus aims to replace violence and prevent us from returning to chaos. Authority and order are the underlying features of politics and ensures its enforceability. Power underscores its very existence; it is necessary for politics exist. Without authority, politics simply is not feasible. The most visible and widely accepted example of politics is the workings of the governmental institutions. However, although at first glance one may not be aware of it, politics in its various forms is present wherever and whenever humans form a community. Returning to the writings and beliefs of Aristotle, politics is an intrinsic feature of mankind. References â€Å"Politics†, Heywood, Palgrave. 1997 â€Å"The Republic†, Plato (Tr Des. Lee), Penguin, 1987 â€Å"On Liberty†, J.S.Mills, Penguin, 1985 BBC Politics page: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/talking_politics/default.stm>