In Defence of Politics

At a time of brittle cynicism about the activities of politicians, this essay attempts to justify politics in plain words by saying what it is. In a civilized community the establishment of political order among rival groups and interests marks the birth of freedom. In spite of the compromises and half measures which prompt the impatient idealist to regard politics as a dirty word, indeed because of them, the negotiating processes of politics remain the only tested alternative to government by coercion.