It’s Not Only Politics: Recognising Our Role as Political Animals in a Politicised Society
It’s often said, “It’s only politics,” as if political issues are somehow separate from the realities of our everyday lives. Yet, to view politics as a distant, detached arena misses a fundamental truth about society and human nature: everything is political. Politics isn’t just a set of ideologies or policies crafted behind closed doors; it’s a framework that shapes every element of our daily existence. In modern society, we live as political beings, influencing and being influenced by decisions that affect everything from the price of food to the safety of our communities. To dismiss political discussions as “just politics” is to ignore the real and lasting consequences that political decisions have on individuals, families, and communities.
From our interactions at work and school to the fundamental rights we enjoy—or are denied—politics is always at play. When a certain politician rises to power or a particular policy is enacted, it’s not merely an intellectual exercise; it’s a direct line to real-life impacts, whether that be on wages, healthcare, or education. Political leaders, far from operating in a vacuum, wield power that affects people’s lived experiences in meaningful, material ways. For example, consider the political choices surrounding healthcare funding: a decision to cut services is not just about balancing a budget—it directly impacts people’s access to medical care and, ultimately, their well-being. Or think of immigration policies, which are not abstract debates about borders, but questions about people’s right to feel safe, welcome, and part of a community.
These aren’t abstract issues; they shape the conditions in which people live. When people say “it’s just politics,” they risk undermining the stakes involved in political decisions, failing to acknowledge how power imbalances, economic disparities, and legislative changes ripple through society, touching the lives of millions. This detachment can lead to apathy, a dangerous attitude in any democratic society, as it allows those in power to shape the nation’s future unchecked and undisturbed. It’s crucial to remember that behind every political decision, there are real human consequences that demand our attention and engagement.
The political climate and social climate are also inextricably linked, with each influencing the other. The tone set by the political system shapes public attitudes, perceptions, and—most crucially—the degree of safety that people feel in their daily lives. When political rhetoric normalises or even encourages hostility toward certain groups, it signals a dangerous shift in what is socially acceptable. Politicians who use dehumanising language or stoke resentment do more than fuel partisan debate; they embolden hateful behaviour, creating a climate where people may feel comfortable expressing prejudice or even resorting to violence. When hateful rhetoric is not only tolerated but actively endorsed within the political sphere, it creates an unsafe environment for those who are targeted, undermining society’s commitment to equality, tolerance, and respect. This interplay between political discourse and social attitudes means that policies and political statements have implications far beyond the chambers of Parliament, or whatever your seat of Government is called—they directly shape the environment in which people live, work, and socialise.
As a result of everything being political, we are increasingly finding ourselves in a time where political divides cut deeply into people’s lived experiences and actual realities. In this climate, when people share memes or make comments about being able to “still be friends even if we disagree politically,” they often imply that this tolerance makes them morally superior to those who are unwilling to maintain friendships with those who support harmful policies. Yet this approach often comes from a place of privilege—a degree of distance from the real impact that politics has on people’s lives. It overlooks the fact that for many, political disagreements are not abstract but personal, affecting their safety, access to rights, or the dignity with which they are treated. Claiming to “rise above” political differences ignores that some people don’t have the luxury of detaching from politics, as policies directly impact their daily lives and personal well-being. For those who feel their lives or identities are being targeted, avoiding political discussions isn’t a mark of maturity but an act of self-preservation.
Our status as political beings also reminds us that we are responsible for participating in and, when necessary, challenging the system that governs us. Far from being passive observers, we are, as Aristotle called us, “political animals.” Living in society means taking part in the collective processes that define it, a responsibility that’s even more critical in today’s increasingly polarised landscape. While political division once centred on the best ways to address societal problems, today’s divisions are often about whether those problems even exist in the first place.
Climate change is one of the most significant examples of this shift. Where once debates focused on which strategies might best curb emissions, today the political divide too often pits those who recognise the threat of climate change against those who deny its existence altogether. This isn’t constructive division; it’s a derailment. The very essence of politics—a field intended to foster debate, compromise, and problem-solving—has been distorted into a battleground where acknowledging problems is seen as partisan rather than prudent. We are no longer merely disagreeing over solutions but over realities.
Similarly, issues like poverty, racial justice, and equality have become divisive not in terms of proposed solutions, but in terms of their recognition as valid issues. When political debate can’t agree on the existence of a problem, the path forward becomes murky, and the likelihood of meaningful action decreases. This kind of division serves as an obstacle to progress. By challenging the existence of issues rather than focusing on solutions, we waste critical energy that could be directed towards genuine improvement.
It’s worth reminding ourselves that political division, in a functional democracy, should not be feared or rejected outright. In fact, diverse perspectives are essential to crafting well-rounded policies that work for different segments of society. But this division only serves us when it rests on a shared understanding of the world we live in. Healthy political discourse involves grappling with the how, not the if, of a problem. Democracy was designed to manage differences in opinion, not differences in reality.
In an era where political divisions are increasingly polarising, we must resist the temptation to disengage. Dismissing the political as something peripheral to our daily lives only serves to insulate us from recognising the impact our political choices have on real human lives. Recognising that we are political beings in an inherently politicised society doesn’t mean we are bound to tribal loyalties or endless division. Instead, it calls us to engage actively, to seek informed perspectives, and to remember that each political decision touches someone’s life in real, measurable ways.
Let us not reduce politics to an abstract game played out on the news. By embracing our role as political animals and engaging in debates that acknowledge shared realities, we have a greater chance of building a society that works for all, where politics serves people rather than obscures the true stakes at hand.