Politics often have a bad name
why does politics often have a bad name and why should we study it?. Discuss with reference to examples with which you are familiar.
Sample Solution
Politics often has a bad name because it is associated with corruption, scandals and bitter rivalries. Politics has been blamed for creating deep rifts in communities, escalating tensions between countries and fuelling inequality among the population. It is true that politics has created some of the most intractable problems of our time and it can be difficult to trust politicians when there are so many reports of dishonesty, abuse of power and worse. However,
it is important to keep in mind that politics also serves an essential role in any functioning democracy; without it we would not have laws to protect us from harm or regulations to ensure fair competition between businesses.
Studying politics helps us understand why these issues arise in the first place as well as how they can be addressed. By understanding different theories about how political systems operate and compete, citizens gain insight into why certain decisions are made at the highest levels of government – whether those decisions reflect their personal values or not. With this knowledge comes power: citizens become informed voters who can then shape elections by asking questions and making demands on representatives. This type of engagement goes far beyond simply voting every few years; studying politics gives citizens valuable tools to hold governments accountable for their actions or lack thereof (e.g., environmental policies).
An example that highlights both sides of politics happened recently in Canada when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was criticized for using government funds to pay a consultant firm over $100 million dollars while simultaneously cutting spending on social programs like health care access during the COVID-19 pandemic period. On one hand, people were outraged at what appeared to be blatant wastefulness coming from a supposed leader with progressive beliefs; however, upon further examination this outcry revealed larger problems within Canadian democratic institutions such as mismanagement of public funds which could have been better examined had citizens taken more active roles through education before expressing outrage post facto .
In conclusion, studying politics gives individuals greater abilities to assess situations objectively rather than relying solely on emotions and instinctive reactions which are often misguided due to lack of information. It also enables them with critical thinking skills so they may challenge existing structures if need be – even if those structures appear radically different from what one originally expected (e.g., Trudeau’s handling of taxpayers’ money). Ultimately , learning about the political process offers tremendous potential for positive change both locally and internationally if done properly; therefore despite its less than stellar reputation amongst some segments may serve benefit all parties involved over long haul regardless their differences opinions