Matthew Kelsall
Student Number: 590020406
What is Politics, and why is it important?
Despite the overriding contemporary populist opinion that politics is of little value
and importance, politics is in many ways inseparable from human society. Whilst the
definition of is wide ranging and fluid, the notion of why it is important and what
form of politics is important is perhaps a more pertinent and compelling question.
Politics can be typically thought of as the idea that forms the basis of the system that
has organised human society in whatever forms such societies have existed. The
systems of politics focus on governance and its implementation and it can be argued
that in this the varied nature of humanity is reflected as there is a vast array of
competing ideas and ideologies that shape politics and consequently lives. It is often
said that religion and politics do not mix, however in truth they are both concepts that
contribute to the structure and governance human society. Indeed in some political
systems particularly the most polarising such as Communism or Fascism the central
figure of authority has tended to be emerged in ‘a cult of the personality’ making
giving them an infallible status akin to that of a deity.
Moving away from autocratic systems that centralise to the extreme, the systems of
politics have increasing found that the diffusion of political authority, extension of
political participation and particularly in western democratic systems the moderation
of ideology. Liberal democracies such as that operates in Britain revolves around the
consensus of society as a whole and for that reason we have seen that political parties
have retreated from diametrically opposing ideologies to a centrist position where neo
liberal economics are combined with social democracy, giving birth to New Labour in
the 1990s and more recently the notion of a more liberal and progressive Conservative
Party.
Since 1832, participation in politics and the democratic system in Britain as expanded
to the point where the ‘majoirty’ are able to exercise some form of political power,
some would argue that this power is too weak and inconsequential and a more direct
form of democracy is needed. However such systems can sometimes be said to ignore
the prevailing need for political systems to provide stability, justice and longevity to
Matthew Kelsall
Student Number: 590020406
society. With many competing and at times selfish interests present in society, the
idea of political authority and responsibility returns with importance as elected
politicians must sometimes transcend some of these interests in order to lead society.
The issue of same sex marriage in the American state of California can be one that
expounds this point as direct democracy led to the right to enter into a civil
partnership was overturned. It may be argued that the majority of heterosexuals in the
2009 plebiscite gave little consideration the minority of people who may wish to enter
into such a partnership and in effect curtailed the rights of others over a proposition
that would have in practise had little or tangible effect on their own lives. The British
approach to the same issues can be seen to embody the notion of political
responsibility as in supporting the idea, politicians were seen to consider interests that
in many cases were very different to their own and thus showed leadership.
Leadership in this sense is arguably crucial in areas such as the environment where
although the majority of the population has been found to be ambivalent to the idea of
climate change, to allow this to come in the way of taking action would be an
abdication of responsibility on the behalf of elected politicians.
Responsibility must however be accompanied with trust, as the political system itself
and authority must be trusted to be carrying out it’s responsibilities to protect people
and maintain a peaceful order to society. In the contemporary world it is perhaps the
idea of trust that is the imperative as declines in democratic participation can be traced
back to elected politicians being held in contempt. The lack of trust between the
governors and the governed has in a sense led to a vicious circle where those with
authority have seen it devalued to the extent that they have been seen to have
abdicated their responsibilities to regulate the financial sector and to behave
unselfishly. Without trust in society and politics being resorted and responsibilities
being acted upon it is difficult to see resolution and progress regarding the problems
and challenges ahead. Challenges in ensuring that the people and environment of the
Earth can be protected and that politics, and by definition humanity itself can take a
more sustainable and less destructive course.