what is the best definition of politics?

Politics is best defined as the organized process through which people and groups make, influence, and enforce collective decisions about how power and resources are distributed in a society.

Quick Scoop: Core Definition

If you want one compact, widely accepted formulation, you can blend classic dictionary and political-theory perspectives into this:

Politics is the art and process of governing and influencing collective decisions , especially about how power and public resources are distributed in a community or state.

This captures government, struggle over “who gets what, when, and how,” and the rules that let people live together.

How Experts Commonly Define Politics

Different scholars emphasize different angles, but they overlap a lot.

• As government and rule-making:
  Politics is the activity of governing, making laws, and managing public affairs.

• As power and conflict:
  Politics is the struggle over power and the allocation of limited resources between competing groups and interests.

• As collective decision-making:
  Politics is the ongoing process of resolving disagreements and making binding decisions for a society, often through negotiation and compromise.

• As everyday relationships:
  Politics also appears in organizations and social groups (“office politics”), wherever people compete for influence and advantage.

A good “best” definition ties these together: politics is about how societies decide and enforce who gets what, under which rules, and with whose consent.

A Few Famous Short Definitions

To see why your question is debated so much, here are some influential styles of definition, simplified:

• “Politics is the art or science of government.” – Standard dictionary view.

• “Politics is about who gets what, when, and how.” – Power and distribution focus, echoing classic political science summaries.

• “Politics is the interaction of citizens in the public sphere.” – Focus on participation and public life.

• “Politics is conflict resolution through negotiation and compromise.” – Emphasizes peaceful handling of disagreement.

Each is accurate but partial; combining them gives a richer “best” definition.

Why There’s No Single Perfect Definition

There isn’t universal agreement on one “official” best definition because:

• Different contexts (academic, media, everyday speech) stress different aspects: state institutions, social conflict, or civic engagement.

• Some think politics is mostly about the state and formal government , while others extend it to all power relations in society, including workplaces and families.

• Normative views differ: some see politics as a necessary tool for cooperation and justice, others mostly associate it with corruption and manipulation.

But across these disagreements, nearly all views keep three elements in common: power, collective decisions, and rules for living together.

TL;DR: If you need one strong, exam-safe line:
Politics is the art and process of governing and influencing collective decisions about how power and public resources are distributed in a society.