Politics is the social process through which collective power is generated,

organized, distributed and used in social systems. It is embedded within

particular social structures and processes. It takes place in societies with
distinct social and economic arrangements.

The sociological analysis of politics concerns the study of political behaviour

within a social context, exploring the relation of politics to the entire social
structure in which it is embedded. Politics is about power and it occurs when
there are differentials in power. Thus, any social relationship that involves
power differentials is political.

According to Anthony Giddens (1997), Politics concerns the means whereby

power is used to affect the scope and content of government activities.
Power in society directly affects power in the state, but the impact of politics
also changes the distribution of power in society.

In most societies, politics is organized primarily around the institution of the

state, although this is a relatively recent development. The sphere of the
political may range well beyond that of state institutions. According to
renowned political scientist Harold Lass-well (1936), politics may be defined
as who gets, what, when and how.

Although the concept of politics is most often associated with governing

institutions at international, national, regional and community levels, sociologically it can be applied to virtually any social system in which power plays
a significant role. We can, therefore, apply this concept about office politics,
university politics, the politics of family life and sexuality, or even the politics
of art, music and films.

In reality, the concept of politics draws attention to the fact that every social
system has a power structure, not just those whose social functions are
formally defined in terms of power. Since all areas of social life involve
elements of power, politics cannot be seen as involving merely what
politicians do. Instead, any process involving the exercise of control,
constraint and coercion in society is potentially political.

Sociologists, especially political sociologists, use the term politics to refer to

those processes that people use to resolve conflicts between private interest
and common good that occur with the institutional framework of government.

According to Max Weber, Politics means striving to influence the distribution

of power, either among states or among groups within a state. Though
individual personalities are important in determining the course of political
events, still sociologists studying politics have only passing interest in
personalities.

Their inquiries are much more likely to concentrate on the nature of political
power, the major political and economic decisions are made (both within and
outside of government bodies) and the differences that exist in the political
socialization and ideologies of different social classes.