Introduction to politics

It is difficult to avoid politics. The news headlines which interrupt our favourite television programs and the news banners which scroll across the most popular websites are filled with stories of wars, government failures and corruption. While we are all aware of politics, increasingly, as a society, we are sceptical about politics and uninterested in the activities of our governments and leaders. Given such views, few were surprised when a recent opinion poll found that only 9% of Australians regarded federal politicians as having ‘very high standards of honesty and ethics’ (Ward & Stewart 2006, 2). Such responses might be a natural reaction to the sensationalist coverage which dominates the popular press, but the fact remains that politics will always be an essential feature of modern life because we need civilised ways of resolving the disagreements that inevitably arise in any society. In short, politics is fundamental for social stability and economic development because we need agreed procedures for making decisions and resolving conflicts in an efficient and legitimate manner