Class 11 Polity Chapter 1 Political Theory: An Introduction

Political Theory: An Introduction

Ideals like democracy, freedom or equality.

Politics: Political leaders, and persons who contest elections and hold political office, may argue that it is a kind of public service.

Some others associate politics with manipulation, self interest, scam.

We need to realize that politics is an important and integral part of any society.

Mahatma Gandhi once observed that politics envelopes us like the coils of a snake and there is no other way out but to wrestle with it. No society can exist without some form of political organisation and collective decision making.

Politics is not confined to the affairs of government. 

Since the actions of the government affect us deeply, we take a lively interest in what governments do. 

We form associations and organise campaigns to articulate our demands. We negotiate with others and try to shape the goals that governments pursue.

1.1 What is Politics?

• People have different ideas about what politics is.
• Political leaders, and persons who contest elections and hold political office, may argue that it is a kind of public service.
• Some associate politics with manipulation and intrigue.
• A few think of politics as what politicians do.
• Unfortunately, politics has come to be associated with the pursuit of self-interest by any and every method.
• Politics is an important and integral part of any society.
• No society can exist without some form of political organisation and collective decision making.
• A society that wants to sustain itself needs to take into account the multiple needs and interests of its members.
• A number of social institutions have emerged to help fulfil people's needs and aspirations. Such institutions help us live together acknowledging our obligations to each other. 
• Among such institutions, governments play an important part.
• But politics is not confined to the affairs of government.

To sum up, politics arises from the fact that we have different visions of what is just and desirable for us and our society. 

It involves the multiple negotiations that go on in society through which collective decisions are made. 

At one level, it involves what governments do and how they relate to the aspirations of the people; at another level, it involves how people struggle and influence decision making.

Class 11I