When an organization is designed to regulate the whole community. it takes the character
of polity. Polity, therefore, denotes an organization where rules are made and decisions
are taken for the whole community, and authority is exercised over each member of the
community. The term ‘political, refers to something that is 'public, as distinguished
from private or something applicable to a limited number of persons. Sheldon S. Wolin,
in his Politics and Vision (1960), has beautifully summed up the characteristics of the
'political' as follows:
Of all the authoritative institutions in society, the political arrangement has been
singled out as uniquely concerned with what is common' to the whole community
Certain functions, such as national defence, internal order, the dispensing of justice,
and economic regulation, have been declared the primary responsibility of political
institutions, largely on the grounds that the interests and ends served by these
functions were beneficial to all of the members of the community.
Thus polity or the state enjoys a unique position among social institutions. It is so
important that Aristotle (an ancient Greek philosopher) described man by nature a
political animal'. Living in a state was so natural for a person that he who lived outside
the state or who did not need a state was either a beast or a god!
The terms 'polity', 'politics' and 'political' are derived from the Greek word polis
which denoted ancient Greek city-state. The Greek city-states were relatively small
communities which were separated from each other by geographical barriers like forests,
mountains and seas. Each city-state had evolved a compact social life and culture where
all institutions-and activities were knit together. These institutions and activities which
were aimed at securing good life' for the community were regarded to be the part of
'politics'. However, in the present-day society the scope of politics is not regarded to
o comprehensive. Today we draw a distinction between public and private spheres
of human life, and confine the usage of the term 'politics' to the institutions and activities
falling in the public sphere. Thus the decisions of cabinet and parliament, election
campaigns and other activities of political parties, people's movements seeking change
in law and public policy, etc. belong to politics but the object of our faith and worship.
the content of our education, art and culture, etc. do not properly belong to the sphere of
politics until some regulation thereof is required to maintain public order and safety!
Another important characteristic of the 'political' in modern times may be identified
as its concern with the use of power'. In popular parlance, the term 'power' may be
used in multifarious contexts. For instance, we talk of the power of man over nature or
material things, and the power of man over man. In the political context, we largely use
this term in the sense of power of a human agency over human beings. Power is usually
defined as one's capacity to attain compliance from others against their will, as if all
compliance is obtained by the use of force or showing the threat of using force. However,
this view is only one-sided. Power, to be effective and stable, often takes the character
of authority' which also comprehends 'legitimacy', that is the capacity to secure willing
obedience. Use of force or coercion or sanctions may be resorted to only when legitimacy
fails to work. It is authority which ensures social acceptance and effective implementation
of rules, policies and decisions.
Authority = Power+ Legitimacy
Power = Ability to use force to make others obey one's commands
Legitimacy = The quality of being considered lawful, i.e. right or correct
according to the prevalent standards of morality, common good
or social justice.
of polity. Polity, therefore, denotes an organization where rules are made and decisions
are taken for the whole community, and authority is exercised over each member of the
community. The term ‘political, refers to something that is 'public, as distinguished
from private or something applicable to a limited number of persons. Sheldon S. Wolin,
in his Politics and Vision (1960), has beautifully summed up the characteristics of the
'political' as follows:
Of all the authoritative institutions in society, the political arrangement has been
singled out as uniquely concerned with what is common' to the whole community
Certain functions, such as national defence, internal order, the dispensing of justice,
and economic regulation, have been declared the primary responsibility of political
institutions, largely on the grounds that the interests and ends served by these
functions were beneficial to all of the members of the community.
Thus polity or the state enjoys a unique position among social institutions. It is so
important that Aristotle (an ancient Greek philosopher) described man by nature a
political animal'. Living in a state was so natural for a person that he who lived outside
the state or who did not need a state was either a beast or a god!
The terms 'polity', 'politics' and 'political' are derived from the Greek word polis
which denoted ancient Greek city-state. The Greek city-states were relatively small
communities which were separated from each other by geographical barriers like forests,
mountains and seas. Each city-state had evolved a compact social life and culture where
all institutions-and activities were knit together. These institutions and activities which
were aimed at securing good life' for the community were regarded to be the part of
'politics'. However, in the present-day society the scope of politics is not regarded to
o comprehensive. Today we draw a distinction between public and private spheres
of human life, and confine the usage of the term 'politics' to the institutions and activities
falling in the public sphere. Thus the decisions of cabinet and parliament, election
campaigns and other activities of political parties, people's movements seeking change
in law and public policy, etc. belong to politics but the object of our faith and worship.
the content of our education, art and culture, etc. do not properly belong to the sphere of
politics until some regulation thereof is required to maintain public order and safety!
Another important characteristic of the 'political' in modern times may be identified
as its concern with the use of power'. In popular parlance, the term 'power' may be
used in multifarious contexts. For instance, we talk of the power of man over nature or
material things, and the power of man over man. In the political context, we largely use
this term in the sense of power of a human agency over human beings. Power is usually
defined as one's capacity to attain compliance from others against their will, as if all
compliance is obtained by the use of force or showing the threat of using force. However,
this view is only one-sided. Power, to be effective and stable, often takes the character
of authority' which also comprehends 'legitimacy', that is the capacity to secure willing
obedience. Use of force or coercion or sanctions may be resorted to only when legitimacy
fails to work. It is authority which ensures social acceptance and effective implementation
of rules, policies and decisions.
Authority = Power+ Legitimacy
Power = Ability to use force to make others obey one's commands
Legitimacy = The quality of being considered lawful, i.e. right or correct
according to the prevalent standards of morality, common good
or social justice.
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