Apolitician is a person who participates inpolicy-making processes, usually holding a position in a political party or an elective position in government. Politicians make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles or duties that politicians perform vary depending on the level of government, whether local, state, or national. The ideological orientation that politicians adopt often stems from their previous experience, education, beliefs, thepolitical parties they belong to. They try to shapepublic opinion accordingly.
Politicians sometimes face many challenges and mistakes that may affect theircredibility and ability to persuade. These mistakes includepolitical corruption resulting from their use and exploitation of power to achieve self interest. Ideally they prioritize thepublic interest over their own profit. Challenges include how to keep up with the development of social media and confronting opposition media, in addition to discrimination for or against them on the basis of gender or race.
Standard dictionary definitions include a range of political activists under the definition of "politician."Merriam Webster Dictionary (2025) states:
Politician: 1: a person experienced in the art or science of government especially: one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government. 2a : a person engaged in party politics as a profession.[1]
Oxford English Dictionary (1989 edition) states:
Politician 2b: One keenly interested in politics; one who engages in party politics, or in political strife, or who makes politics his profession or business; also (esp. in U.S.), in a sinister sense, one who lives by politics as a trade.[2]
Politicians are people who participate in policy-making, in a multifaceted variety of positions of responsibility both domestically and internationally.[3][4]
In ancient Greece,Pericles of Athens played an important role in politics, both in public discussions and in decision-making as depicted in Philip Foltz's 19th-century painting.[5]
Over time the figure of the politician has evolved to include many forms and functions. In the United States,George Washington played a pivotal role as a politician because he served as the firstPresident of the United States, shaping the official role and setting many precedents.[6] Today, political offices take many forms, held by people called (for example) premiers, ministers, mayors, governors, senators, or presidents, each with its own duties.[7][need quotation to verify]
Though popular discourse may equate politicians with "leaders", politicians may primarily conduct themselves in the political process without engaging in leading — the class of politicians may include:representative delegates,[8][9] executive functionaries oradministrators,[10][a]diligent bureaucratic cadres,[11] and party hacks[12]submissively propping up a voting majority.[13]While government leaders are generally considered politicians,[14]not all politicians are subject to voters: autocratic and dictatorial regimes remain extant.[15][need quotation to verify]
The identity of politicians is influenced by their social and work environments, by their ideology, and by any parties with which they may associate; furthermore, the development of means of communication andsocial media have increasedpublic participation in policy-making, leading to a reformation of politicians' identities and increasing the complexity of political work.[16][17]
Barack Obama, Public Speech, Technology and Innovation, Manufacturing, Intel Fab 42. Political leaders use public events to frame issues and influence public opinion by crafting appropriate rhetoric.
Politicians are influential people who userhetoric to impact people as in speeches or campaign advertisements. They are especially known for using common themes, and media platforms that allow them to develop their political positions, developingcommunication between them and the people.[18][19][20]
Photo of the second of the four presidential debates held during the 1960 presidential election. This debate took place inWashington, D.C. at NBC'sWRC-TV studios on October 7, 1960.
Politicians of necessity become expert users of themedia.[21] Politicians in the 19th century made heavy use ofnewspapers, magazines, and pamphlets, as well as posters to disseminate their messages to appeal to voters' emotions and beliefs in their campaigns.[22][23] In the 20th century, the scope of media expanded out into radio and television, and a major change occurred as speech was now presented visually as well as verbally as evidenced by theKennedy-Nixon debates, marking a new era where visual media became crucial to campaigns.[24] The twenty-first century has provided wide and diverse media platforms represented by Facebook, and Twitter, which has now become X, Instagram, YouTube, and others. This development has made their rhetorical messages faster, shorter more efficient, and characterized by the speed of spread and interaction.[25][26][27]
Politicians, who rarely meet voters in person, seek to use the media as a means of communicating with people, winning votes, and obtaining political roles. Some research confirms that the media increases the popularity of a politician, and indicates that negative news has a stronger effect on popularity than positive news.[28]
Some research has suggested that politicians tend to use social media more thantraditional media because their perception of the traditional media's influence as a public informant greatly affects their satisfaction with democratic processes. So they prefer to use social media and communicate directly with people in order to have greater control over their message and easier communication.[29]
This continuous evolution in media has made politicians adapt their discourse to these diverse and evolving platforms for greater communication and effectiveness.[30]
Mattozzi and Merlo argue that politicians typically follow two main career paths in modern democracies. The first is career politicians who remain in government until retirement. The second is political careerists, who have gained a reputation for their experience at various levels of government such as international, federal, state, and local governments, they often leave politics and start a new business venture using their political connections.[33]
The personal histories of politicians have been frequently studied, as it is presumed that their experiences and characteristics shape their beliefs and behaviors. There are four pathways by which a politician'sbiography could influence theirleadership style and abilities. First, a politician's biography may shape their core beliefs, which are essential to shaping their worldview.[34] The second pathway is those personal experiences that influence a politician's skills and competence, and which determine where politicians focus their resources and attention as leaders.[35] The third pathway refers to biographical characteristics that influence a politician's resource allocation and responses based on characteristics such as race or gender. The fourth pathway is how a politician's biography affects his public perception, which affects politicians' leadership style and their strategy for gaining people's respect.[36]
Numerous scholars have studied the characteristics of politicians and in economic class to explain characteristics impact on politicians' effectiveness and electoral success, comparing politicians involves different dimensions such as level of government (the local and national levels), political ideology (liberal or the more conservative),economic class, and comparing the more successful and less successful in terms of elections.[37][38]Demographic factors such as age, gender, education, income, and race/ethnicity, play a role in shaping shape voter behavior and political preferences[39]
Also, educational background in politics also plays an important role in shaping the political awareness of politicians and plays a major role in increasing people's confidence in them.[40]
In this century of advanced communications, politicians face challenges and difficulties while communicating with people through various social media platforms. The implicit importance of social media for politics stems from the virtual space these platforms have created for expressing ideas and spreading mutual messages without restrictions.[43] Misinformation, rumors, and discrimination complicate theirpolitical behavior and communication with people.[44][45]
Face-to-face contact with constituents is important to elected politicians. Face-to-face meetings force politicians to be directly aware of the issues that matter most to their constituents and to have a ready response for them. They pay attention to tome of voice, looking for unspoken priorities, hopes and anxieties. Politicians with good memories will ask whether such and such a problem is resolved satisfactorily, or how the children are doing.[46][47] Some politicians have the knack to remember thousands of names and faces. PresidentsGeorge W. Bush andBill Clinton were renowned for their memories.[48][49]
Political polarization created by the media plays a role in influencing politicians' behavior and communications, which reinforces negative campaigns. They also play a role in legislative gridlock and negatively impact public perception, which negatively impacts politicians' interests.[50]
Additionally, research highlighted that politicians, especially populist politicians, may create a challenge for themselves by increasingly accusing the media of spreading misinformation or "fake news." Such accusations can undermine the credibility of media platforms, even though trust in the accused politicians remains largely unaffected. They will therefore have a negative impact on the credibility of media platforms, and this distrust may extend to the media institutions as a whole that politicians use to communicate with people.[51]
Presenters at Women in Media and Politics
Regarding the challenges of gender dynamics, particularly the role ofwomen in politics, some recent research focuses on the life path of women in the political field and the challenges surrounding them. For example, there are studies on the "supermader" model in politics in Latin America, which illustrate the difficulties women face and how to balance their home and work and the distinction between women and men that negatively affects their acceptance in political work.[52][53]
Historically, in patronage-based systems, especially in the 19th century, winning politicians replaced civil servants and government employees who were not protected by the rules of government service with their supporters, a so-called "spoils system." In response to the corruption this system fostered, government job reforms were introduced. These reforms required elected politicians to work with existing civil servants and officials to pursue long-term public interest goals, rather than simply rewarding their supporters. This shift aimed to reduce corruption and prioritize the integrity ofgovernment positions.[54][55]
An Act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States, January 16, 1883; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789–1996; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 passed by the U.S. Congress to combat corruption, favoritism in hiring, and the spoils system. It advocated hiring based on merit and protected civil servants from political influence.[56][57]
In the modern century, many laws have been put in place to protect employees and reducepolitical corruption and favoritism in employment, for example, the Mexican government introduced the Federal Law on Administrative Responsibilities of Public Officials (2002) which establishes professional and accountable standards for officials against corruption and the spoils system.[58]
Also, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 in the USA has established corruption to protect federal employees who report corruption, fraud, or other illegal activities within the government.[59]
Some critics often accuse politicians of not communicating with the public. They accuse politicians' speeches of being sometimes overly formal, filled with many euphemisms and metaphors, and generally seen as an attempt to "obscure, mislead, and confuse".[60][61]
Lack of awareness, selfishness,manipulation,political corruption and dishonesty are perceptions that people often accuse politicians of, and many see them as prioritizing personal interests over the public interests.[62] Politicians in many countries are seen as the "most hated professionals," and the least trustworthy, leading to public skepticism and constant criticism.[62]
In addition, some politicians tend to be negative, this strategy, although it does not enhance their chances of being re-elected or gaining public support, politicians see this negativity as consistent with negative media bias, which increases their chances of securing media access and public attention.[63]
The Immunity Bath (J.J. Hanberg leaving the Grand Jury Room, surrounded by stamped vouchers), March 5, 1910
Also, lack ofaccountability and theimmunity from prosecution they receive as politicians results in further corruption and evasion from legal punishment,[64] as represented by the immunity bath depiction by J.J. Hanberg.[65]
^Some politicians - whether elected or appointed - have successful careers in administering government ministries or departments - without necessarily acting as political leaders.
^Mark, Joshua (28 March 2018)."Pericles".World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved23 September 2024.
^"George Washington: The First President".The White House. n.d. Retrieved23 September 2024.'As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent,' he wrote James Madison, 'it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.'
^Reeve, Andrew (26 February 2009) [1996]. "delegate". In McLean, Iain; McMillan, Alistair (eds.).The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Oxford Quick Reference (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. https://books.google.com/books?id=8JkyAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT188.ISBN978-0-19-101827-5. Retrieved9 August 2025.delegate[:] A person on whom an individual or group confers the capacity to act on his or their behalf. [...] The relationship between the principal (who delegates) and the agent may be variously understood.
^Scott, Adrian F. (20 October 2024). "Delegate".Dictionary of Political $#@!: Science History Theory. Ascottcorp.ISBN979-8-9918385-0-4. Retrieved9 August 2025.Delegate [...]: A person chosen or elected to represent others, especially in a political assembly or convention. [...] The theory behind delegations focuses on representation, exploring how delegates are supposed to act on behalf of their constituents.
^Sager, Fritz; Rosser, Christian (13 October 2022). "The politics of the politics-administration dichotomy". In Ladner, Andreas; Sager, Fritz (eds.).Handbook on the Politics of Public Administration. Elgar Handbooks in Public Administration and Management. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 34.ISBN978-1-83910-944-7. Retrieved9 August 2025.[...] the public administration is a political actor and part of politics. This conclusion requires acknowledging the administration's role as a political actor [...].
^Gray, Richard T.; Wilke, Sabine, eds. (1996).German Unification and Its Discontents: Documents from the Peaceful Revolution. Manuscripts of the Younger Romantics. Translated by Gray, Richard T.; Wilke, Sabine. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 309.ISBN978-0-295-97491-0. Retrieved9 August 2025.In the GDR cadre politicians and the SED constituted the sole political power in the state and opposition was not permitted.
^For example:Belloc, Hilaire;Chesterton, Cecil (1911). "The Real Support".The Party System. London: Stephen Swift. pp. 165–166. Retrieved9 August 2025.[...] the average man [...] will certainly support by his vote and influence any chance party hack against a representative of his own class [...].
^Carson, Lyn; Martin, Brian (30 December 1999).Random Selection in Politics. Westport, Connecticut: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 6.ISBN978-0-313-02869-4. Retrieved9 August 2025.Politicians are divided into two camps: in a parliament there are backbenchers and the executive, with the latter making all the significant decisions; in a congress the same separation exists between those who chair or are members of powerful committees and those who are not. The lowly representative is reduced to voting fodder in parliament or congress.
^Olaniran, Bolane; Williams, Indi (2020). "Social Media Effects: Hijacking Democracy and Civility in Civic Engagement".Platforms, Protests, and the Challenge of Networked Democracy. Rhetoric, Politics and Society. pp. 77–94.doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36525-7_5.ISBN978-3-030-36524-0.PMC7343248.
^Landtsheer, Christ'l De; Feldman, Ofer (2000).Beyond Public Speech and Symbols: Explorations in the Rhetoric of Politicians and the Media. Bloomsbury Academic.ISBN978-0-275-96732-1.[page needed]
^Dinkin, Robert J. (1989).Campaigning in America: A History of Election Practices. Bloomsbury Academic.ISBN978-0-313-26167-1.[page needed]
^Silvestri, Vito N. (June 2019). "Television's Interface With Kennedy, Nixon, and Trump: Two Politicians and One TV Celebrity".American Behavioral Scientist.63 (7):971–1001.doi:10.1177/0002764218784992.
^Pearlman, Nathaniel G. (2012).Margin of Victory: How Technologists Help Politicians Win Elections. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.ISBN978-1-4408-0258-4.[page needed]
^Tan, Jue Jun; Firdaus, Amira; Aksar, Iffat Ali (31 March 2024). "Social Media for Political Information: A Systematic Literature Review".Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication.40 (1):77–98.doi:10.17576/JKMJC-2024-4001-05.
^Ferraz, Claudio; Finan, Frederico (2009). Motivating Politicians: The Impacts of Monetary Incentives on Quality and Performance (Report). Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.doi:10.3386/w14906.
^Van Rijckeghem, Caroline; Weder, Beatrice (2001). "Bureaucratic corruption and the rate of temptation: do wages in the civil service affect corruption, and by how much?".Journal of Development Economics.65 (2):307–331.doi:10.1016/S0304-3878(01)00139-0.
^Weinschenk, Aaron C.; Dawes, Christopher T.; Oskarsson, Sven; Klemmensen, Robert; Nørgaard, Asbjørn Sonne (February 2021). "The relationship between political attitudes and political participation: Evidence from monozygotic twins in the United States, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark".Electoral Studies.69 102269.doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2020.102269.
^Prinz, Timothy S (1993). "The career paths of elected politicians: a review and prospectus". In Williams, Shirley; Lascher, Edward L. (eds.).Ambition and Beyond: Career Paths of American Politicians. Institute of Governmental Studies Press, University of California, Berkeley. pp. 11–63.ISBN978-0-87772-338-7.
^Chaney, Elsa M. (2014).Supermadre: Women in Politics in Latin America. University of Texas Press.ISBN978-0-292-77265-6.[page needed]
^Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A. (July 2006). "Still Supermadres? Gender and the Policy Priorities of Latin American Legislators".American Journal of Political Science.50 (3):570–585.doi:10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00202.x.
Stebbins, Robert A. (October 2019). "Democracy's Politicians: an Occupation Like No Other".Society.56 (5):461–462.doi:10.1007/s12115-019-00399-w.
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