politicize

Politicize is a verb meaning to cause something to become political in character or to inject political considerations into something that was previously nonpolitical. A policy, issue, institution, or activity can be politicized when it is framed in terms of public policy, partisan interests, or ideological values, or when decisions about it are argued primarily in political terms rather than technical or neutral terms.

The noun form is politicization (or politicisation); the adjective politicized describes something that has been subjected to such framing. Etymology traces the word to political plus the common English verb ending -ize, with usage attested in English from the 18th century onward.

Usage and nuance: politicization can be discussed in neutral terms as acknowledging the intersection of governance and various aspects of society. In practical and rhetorical contexts, the term often carries a pejorative sense, signaling manipulation to advance a partisan agenda or to undermine nonpolitical aims, expertise, or impartial inquiry. The act can occur across domains such as law, science, education, media, and public administration.

Examples of use include politicizing the judiciary, politicizing science, or politicizing humanitarian aid. Discussions about whether a given issue should be politicized frequently reflect debates over the appropriate balance between policy aims and nonpolitical considerations. Related concepts include politicization, partisan framing, and advocacy.