Definition: Politics

The struggle between competing actors to achieve goals.

• Explanation. Politics is thereby distinguished from undirected or unplanned change and from conduct in which there is no struggle between competing actors. Competing actors are actors who, in a particular situation, pursue outcomes that cannot simply be realised simultaneously. A difference of opinion, preference or interest does not in itself consti­tute political struggle. Political struggle arises when actors oppose one another and at­tempt to influence the outcome in the direction of their own goals. Competing actors are thus actors whose goals, desired outcomes, positions, ideas or chosen means are not sim­ply compatible in the situation concerned.The goals pursued in political struggle may vary greatly. They may concern changing, maintaining or ending conceptions, norms, rules, relations, institutions or other condi­tions. Institutionalisation and the creation of collectively binding rules may be means or goals, but are not necessary characteristics of politics.The definition does not confine politics to the state, elections, political parties or formal state bodies. Political struggle may occur within any social circle or between social cir­cles, for example within a family, organisation, association, church, enterprise or state, or between states. Ideas and systems of ideas may help determine the content and direc­tion of political goals, but political struggle may also concern interests, positions, re­sources or other desired outcomes.