Introduction

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 633.

Within any society there will be conflicts of interests; situations in which individuals within the group might want to 'pull in different directions'. These conflicts might result from;

· Scarcity

When there is a shortage of certain goods, conflict will result over the distribution of

available resources

· Ideological differences

Individuals might take a radically different view of the way in which society should be organised.

· Differences in approach

Individuals might share an ideology but have a different approach in achieving their common goals.

· Divisions of labour and power

Individuals might be unhappy about their own position within society. Conflict might result from their desire to challenge the status quo.

The political process is the process by which these conflicts are resolved. Politics is, therefore, a study of conflict resolution. Part of this study must involve the way in which power is divided up between individuals, between individuals and the state, and between the different institutions that make up the state (Parliament, Cabinet, Prime Minister, police etc.) This is Politics on a 'macro' level, but even on a 'micro' level (family, school, friendship groups etc.) political activity is going on because power relationships exist at all of those levels.

In essence, therefore, Politics is about conflict resolution and the distribution of power.