A Concise Reader on Political Thought (Ancient China Part)

Author: Liu Zehua, edited by Zhang Fentian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-02
Features: What is politics? People can clearly perceive its existence but find it difficult to define it precisely. Broadly speaking, politics refers to the general term for a series of special social phenomena centered around state power. It is a historical category that arises alongside the state and continuously changes its content, forms, and scope as society develops. Politics is directly related to phenomena such as the state, regime, public power, governance, social management, government, law, legal systems, social order, and other related aspects. Political relations hold a central position among all social relations, influencing, restricting, and even dominating other types of social relations. Political activities are a significant manifestation of interests, particularly economic interests. Dominant social groups (those in a position of economic rule, leadership, or superiority) are often the true holders and controllers of state power. The fundamental purpose of any group or individual participating in politics is to maintain their own and related social groups' interests by seizing or sharing state power, participating in or influencing government decisions. Thus, politics also serves as a concentrated reflection of major social relations and contradictions. Politics falls under the category of superstructure. It is the most active and sensitive part of superstructure, influencing and permeating all aspects of it, such as philosophy, religion, morality, literature, and art. The scope of political activity is extremely broad, almost. It often actively participates in or even intervenes in important aspects of social life through coercive norms. All forms of human social activities may consciously or unconsciously relate to politics. In summary, since the emergence of the state, political factors have almost permeated every field of social life.