IMUS UNIDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Quality. Christian. Education.

ORIGIN OF POLITICS
● POLIS – city-state
● POLITES – citizens
● POLITIKOS – government officials (Zaide, 1983)

POLITICS
● is derived from the Greek word polis which means “city-state”, a small independent self-
contained political society.
● “the heart of Political Science”
● It is the activity of people where they create, preserve and amend laws under which
they live.

POLITICS as the art of government

● Politics is what defines the activities of the government and of the state. All
government officials and all those working in government are participating in
politics.

POLITICS as public affair

● Politics is played by everybody, politicians or not.

● In politics, Aristotle said that “man by nature is a political animal;” this means that it
is only within a political community that human beings can live the good life.
● Thus, politics becomes necessary to create a just society.

POLITICS as compromise and consensus

● Politics is meant to resolve conflict.

● In politics, compromise, conciliation and negotiation become necessary.
● It is through these means that issues and problems are being resolved.
Thus, politics becomes the process of conflict resolution.
 POLITICS as power

● Politics happens in all human interactions: within the family, among friends, among
officemates, etc.
Politics can, therefore, be seen as struggle over scarce resources, and power can be seen as
the means through which struggle is conducted.

5 REASONS TO STUDY POLITICS

1. Politics will help you to know your rights.
2. Politics clarifies what you yourself believes.
3. Politics is a living, breathing subject.
4. Politics helps you to understand our nation’s parties.
5. Politics prepares you for adult life.
HOW POLITICS CAN BE STUDIED?
● “a government’s ability to make and enforce rule and to deliver services, regardless of
whether the government is democratic or not.” -Fukuyama (2013)
● In the early Indian history, back to at least 400 B.C, governance includes emphasizing
justice, ethics and anti- autocratic tendencies.
● Moreover, World Bank (2007) defines governance as “the manner in which public
officials and institutions acquire and exercise the authority to shape public policy and
provide public goods and services.”

NOTE:
Decisions should not be influenced
by interest of the few, values and
preference.