Power and Politics

•What is politics?

•Power in society

What is politics?

• Politics is not simply about people arguing and failing to agree, nor is it the sole preserve of governments.

• Any behaviour that seeks to impose a point of view is a political act.

• Politics is about making decisions and the processes influencing those decisions.

Where politics takes place

• Individuals

• Groups

• Society

• Country

• Systems of government

• Issues of power and authority – the greater good.

Definition of politics:

politics involves any attempt to get your point of view heard and to

make it influence another person or group. At the heart of politics is

POWER.

Definition of authority:possessing authority means having the backing of the people whom your decisions influence. You have the justification for exercising power over the people affected by your decisions. NB: sometimes people lose authority. This is because people have withdrawn their consent to be influenced by that person.

Dimensions of power and political influence

• Knowledge• Technology• Physical presence• Sexual power• Social standing

(status)

• Connections (friends and acquaintances)

• Traditions• Where you live• Age• wealth