Literally translated, politics is the art of government. The goal of policy is to ensure effective governance and the achievement of public good and stability.
Understanding politics as an art presupposes direct participation in public affairs, determines the forms and tasks of the state. In order to really have a high status of art, politics must be based on advanced scientific achievements and meet the highest moral and ethical criteria.
The need of a society for political control is determined by its very nature. By itself, it is asymmetric and is represented by different classes, groups and interests. This creates inevitable collisions. Therefore, in order to prevent a war of all against all, a special organization with strength and real power is needed. It is on political activity that the entire burden of responsibility for what is happening in the state is imposed.
The effectiveness of political governance is largely determined by several points. In particular, this is the ability to set tactical and strategic objectives and determine the most effective methods, means and forms of their implementation. Also of great importance is the ability to form a professional team that is able to achieve the set goals. The supreme art of political governance consists in a rational assessment of the limits of power and its possibilities, which can be applied in various circumstances.
Functions and social role of politics
Given its defining position in the social structure, a politician performs a whole range of important functions:
- expression of interests of various social groups;
- regulation and direction in the right direction of the processes that take place in society, ensuring social development;
- smoothing out conflicts and contradictions in society;
- integration of society, maintenance of stability and order;
- ensuring effective communication between the government and society;
- political socialization of citizens, which should contribute to active involvement in the political process.
Goals and means in politics
The policy can be directed to various public areas and problem areas. Proceeding from this, its economic, social, environmental orientation, etc. are distinguished. Policy goals are divided into long-term and current, priority and secondary, tactical and strategic.
It is possible to achieve the set goals and objectives in politics by a variety of means - persuasion, negotiations, dialogue, blackmail, coup, murder, etc. The arsenal of means available to politicians is enormous. N. Machiavelli believed that ends in politics justify the means. Disputes about the relationship between politics and morality do not stop to this day.
