3.1 What Is Politics?

Politics is the process by which individuals and groups decide on rules, laws, and policies that affect everyone. The goal of politics is to organize our collective lives in a social order, allowing us to coexist peacefully and access goods and services we couldn’t obtain alone. It involves compromise, cooperation, discussion, and debate. At the same time, politics encompasses individual and group struggles for power and resources, inevitably leading to winners and losers because not everyone can always get what they want.

Harold D. Lasswell, a well-known political scientist, defined politics simply as “who gets what, when, and how.” This definition underscores that politics is about the distribution of resources and power, explaining how decisions are made regarding who receives certain benefits, when they receive them, and the methods used to distribute these benefits.

Lasswell’s definition highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics behind political decisions, which affect every aspect of our lives. Studying politics through this lens gives us a clearer picture of how society is governed and the significance of making our voices heard.

But not everything must be a struggle.

Studying state and local governments enhances our understanding of politics by showing how power and resources are shared and managed within our communities. By examining the workings and decision-making processes of these governments, we can see the broader scope of politics, including the necessary compromises, cooperation, and conflicts that arise as people strive to achieve their goals.

References

Barbour, Christine, and Gerald C. Wright. 2015. Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics. 7th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.

Lasswell, Harold D. 1936. Politics: Who Gets What, When, How. New York: Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill Book Co.