Politics is a process by which decisions are made within groups. Although the term is generally applied to behavior within governments, politics is observed in all human (and many non-human) group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.

Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behavior and examines the acquisition and application of power.

Alternate definitions

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Alternative definitions of politics have been proposed that fulfill the needs of differing perspectives. They include:

• Dictionary definitions, for example, "the art and science of government" ^*
• Textbook definitions, notably, a "process of conflict resolution in which support is mobilized and maintained for collective projects". -- An Introduction to Government and Politics ... Dickerson and Flanagan
• Theorists, such as Harold Lasswell, who defined politics as "who gets what, when, where, and how."
• and Practitioners like
  • Mao Zedong, who said "Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
  • and Otto von Bismarck's cryptic remark, "Politics is the art of feasibility."

More on [ Politics ]

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