Politics is the set of activities associated with making decisions in groups or managing power relations among individuals, especially regarding the distribution of status or resources
. It encompasses the processes by which people living in groups—such as tribes, cities, or countries—make planned decisions to live together and organize society
. Politics involves government activities and those who work for, serve, or challenge it, including making laws, negotiating, and exercising power, sometimes through conflict resolution or cooperation
. More specifically, politics can be seen as:
- The art or science of government, involving creating policies, holding public office, and enforcing laws for society's welfare
- A process of competition and negotiation among rival interests or parties to mobilize support and implement programs
- A method for resolving conflicts by sharing power proportionally among different interests to maintain order and community welfare
- The struggle over the allocation of limited resources and power within a society
Politics operates at various social levels—from small groups and institutions to sovereign states and international relations—and often involves political parties that represent shared ideas and compete in elections
. In summary, politics is fundamentally about how groups make collective decisions, manage conflicts, and organize power and resources to govern themselves and their communities.
