There are
three principles that are significant in understanding domestic and
international politics. First, people are rational beings who purse their interests. Second, people are meaning-seeking
beings who are defined by their identities. Third, people’s interests
and identities are shaped by and pursued within institutions. Interests,
identities, and institutions are all, in turn, shaped by the global context of
development.
Interests
Politics is
largely the pursuit of interest. Interests define the purpose of politics. But what
is politics? The definition of politics is an ontological and epistemological
question. Simply, politics is defined as who get what and how. People get
involved in politics to get the things that they want from government and to
ensure that the state enacts laws and policies that advance their interests and
the interests of the state.
Individuals are
rational beings, so are states. The involvement of people in politics is
therefore the pursuit of their interests. States as rational actors are also
largely driven by (national) interests. These interests as realists will posit,
are defined in terms of security and state survival. The pursuit of security
and state survival is in various forms. It could be in economy or military terms.
Identities
Politics is
also about identities. Although evidence shows that people pursue common goals
with shared interests, people also frequently define their interests based on
certain sets of beliefs and values, and principles. This categorization is what
is termed as identity. People will
pursue certain dictates based on their religious affiliations, cultural practices,
political orientations, geographical settings, economic status, gender
relations, sexual orientations etc. These categorizations are what constitute
identity relations and interest articulations. Politics will be approach from the
different identity suppositions based on collective classifications.
Institutions
The United
Nations is an institution that governs states, the state is an institution that
governs citizens and the family is the basic institutional framework. Institutions
form a basic framework that interests are pursued. Similar identities also come
together and form institutions that advance their interests. Apart from
interest articulations, institutions also set up rules and regulations that govern
tranquil human coexistence.
Politics can
be thus summarized as subset of interests,
identities and institutional engagement.
