Politics is the set of activities related to making decisions in groups and managing power relations among individuals or groups, often involving the distribution of status or resources. It encompasses processes such as negotiation, conflict resolution, lawmaking, and the exercise of authority, including both cooperation and competition
. At its core, politics involves how people living in groups—ranging from families and tribes to states and international bodies—organize themselves to govern and make collective decisions. This includes forming governments, political parties, and institutions that create and enforce laws and policies
. Politics can be understood from several perspectives:
- As the art or science of government, involving the creation and enforcement of laws and policies for society’s welfare
- As a process of conflict resolution and negotiation to reconcile competing interests within a community or state
- As a power struggle where different groups or parties compete to influence decisions and control resources
- As a system of formal institutions that structure governance and political authority within a society
In democratic societies, politics includes activities such as voting, political campaigning, activism, and public debate, reflecting diverse opinions and interests that often lead to conflict and negotiation
. Thus, politics is a broad and multifaceted concept that involves how humans organize themselves to make collective decisions, manage conflicts, and allocate resources within societies.
