Final answer:
Politics involves the distribution of power and decision-making authority, affecting how resources are allocated within various spaces and levels of society. It encompasses the creation of public policy and reflects societal values, shaping the collective choices of a group or nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
At its essence, politics is concerned with the distribution of power and the authority to make decisions within societies. Political spaces are ubiquitous and range from personal spaces like a family's household to global governance. Within these spaces, individuals and groups are constantly engaged in a process to establish rules that dictate power distribution, resource allocation, and access rights.
According to the well-known political scientist Harold Lasswell, politics is all about "who gets what, when, and how," encapsulating the essence of power struggles in resource allocation and policy decisions. Politics uses peaceful negotiations and democratic processes, and at times can involve violence or revolution, to resolve competing interests over scarce resources and differing values.
Moreover, public policy is an outcome of political processes and reflects the values that a society chooses to uphold, such as individualism or egalitarianism. These policies are created by individuals who hold power, affecting the overall social and economic agenda of the governing body. Thus, politics serves as a crucial mechanism for societies to decide on their collective futures and resolve conflicts over resources and policies.