Politique

Politique is the French term for politics, referring to the activities, institutions, and ideas involved in governing a state or community. It covers the exercise of power, the negotiation of public policy, the organization of elections and representation, and the ways in which societies decide collective goals. In French usage, politique also functions as an umbrella for public policy and political life, and the adjective politique describes political matters, as in affaires politiques.

As an academic field, politics is studied as political science, examining how institutions such as legislatures, executives, and judiciaries operate; how actors such as political parties, interest groups, and citizens participate; and how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Subfields include political theory, comparative politics, public administration, international relations, and public policy. Common methods range from normative analysis to empirical research, surveys, and formal modelling.

Historically, concepts related to politique have roots in ancient governance and philosophical discussions of authority, with modern political science developing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Key concerns include representation, legitimacy, sovereignty, and governance. Contemporary discussions focus on democracy, rule of law, human rights, globalization, and the balance between liberty and equality, as well as challenges such as polarization, misinformation, and policy complexity.