Politics
Topic: Political Theory: Freedom and Rights · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Political Theory: An Introduction"
Meaning
Politics is the process of negotiation, or give-and-take, through which a society makes decisions for everyone. It covers what governments do, such as economic, foreign and education policy. It also covers how people try to influence governments, through associations, campaigns and protests. Politics exists because people hold different ideas of what is just and desirable. NCERT rejects the view that politics is "dirty" and should be avoided.
Example
Gandhi said politics wraps around us "like the coils of a snake", so we must wrestle with it rather than run from it. When citizens take part in a gram sabha (the village assembly) to debate how local funds should be spent, they are doing politics.
Don't confuse with
- Political theory: politics is the activity of deciding together. Political theory is the systematic study of the values, such as freedom and justice, that should guide that activity.