WHAT IS POLITICS?
Politics has been misunderstood by many; and has therefore been misused to the disadvantage of human development.
By the Way, What’s Politics?
Generally and concisely, politics is the science and art of government. But for our discussion, we would settle on politics as “an art of government or administering” since we’re not aiming at academic purpose.
Agreeing with Aristotle, the renown Greek philosopher, man is a “political animal”. This opinion was built on the fact that man is a social being, having the power of speech and moral reasoning. Politics, simply, is the way by which people living in groups make decisions. It is about making agreements between people so that they can live together in groups such as tribes, cities, or countries.
In large groups, such as countries, some people may spend a lot of their time making such agreements.
The Original Meaning
The word ‘politics’ has its root in the Greek word “politika’ which means ‘affairs of the cities’, implying — the set of activities associated with taking decisions in regard to distribution of resources or status within a group of people.
Analytically, politics is a compound word, “poly-think” meaning “many thoughts or options (to get a task done.)”
Meanwhile, politics is not limited to state governance; but can also be seen in other groups, such as in companies, clubs, schools, and churches.
Apparently, politics starts in the home. For example, when a parent makes a decision on which among the children is most fit to carry out a task, or be accountable for negligence, it’s politics. Even when deciding, “Should I spend this money on paying school fees or on replacing my work tools?”
What Politics is Not
Often politics is made to connote insincerity or foul play; which is wrong. In Latin America, for example, politics is “poly-tricks” meaning many tricks of the politicians. In Africa as well, politics carries the aura of deception or “smartness!”
All the same, globally, politics is seen as insincerity, manipulation, “crookedness”, and a game of deception or worldliness.
Notwithstanding, politics can be sacred but those involved are the brand determinant. More so, politics is evident in the Scriptures.