Scholars have offered various definitions of politics, reflecting the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Here are a few perspectives from prominent political theorists:
- Harold Lasswell: Lasswell famously defined politics as "who gets what, when, and how." This concise definition emphasizes the distribution of resources and power within society and the processes through which these distributions are determined.
- David Easton: Easton's systems theory approach views politics as the authoritative allocation of values within a society. He conceptualizes politics as the interactions and processes through which a society determines its goals and resolves conflicts.
- Aristotle: Aristotle, one of the earliest political thinkers, defined politics (in his work "Politics") as the "master science" concerned with the organization and governance of human communities. He viewed it as the highest form of practical knowledge, essential for achieving the common good.
- Max Weber: Weber defined politics as the struggle for power within human societies. He emphasized the role of authority and legitimacy in political systems and explored how different forms of authority (traditional, charismatic, rational-legal) shape political behavior.
- Hannah Arendt: Arendt focused on the concept of political action, which she distinguished from mere behavior or activity. For her, politics involves collective deliberation and decision-making, where individuals come together as equals to engage in meaningful dialogue and exercise their freedom.
These definitions offer different insights into the nature and scope of politics, highlighting its central concerns with power, governance, values, authority, and human interaction.
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