Question by Jessica: How long have politics and government been a part of human society?

And has it always been problematic to resist authority, or question politics? How do other countries view and deal with this?




Best answer:

Answer by Jim
Every known society (either existing or that once existed) needs to maintain internal order and protect its members from exterior threat. In the simplest hunting/gathering society, that authority may be placed on the most able man. In that case, he is the "government." Any politics that may be involved would simply be the determination of who is best suited for the job. So, from this perspective, government/politics have always existed.

We can even see it functioning in non-human forms. It is fairly easy to pick out the Alpha male in a family of apes. For grazing animals, one has to lead the flock to the next meadow. Even social insects have an internal hierarchy. And so forth.

In nature, the problem of resisting authority is taken care of pretty simply. If a male sea lion feels that he should lead, he'll challenge the existing Alpha male to a fight. The loser leaves the island. Or, when two rams bang their heads against each other, they are not doing it for the exercise.

Among human beings, the process is basically the same, just more subtle. We use words, innuendo, prejudices, etc. In America, fund raising has a great deal to do with who leads. But, in the end, it just comes down to two people butting heads.

In the U.S. and other industrial countries, we have been able to successfully challenge authority with labor strikes, demonstrations, and grass-roots political campaigns. In more repressive countries, this is not possible. When students in China tried to protest government action in the 1990's in Tienenman Square, they were simply shot or crushed beneath tanks.

Naturally, these are two extremes. You can find examples at various places along a continuum of discontent that separate free countries from police states.
.
.

Add your own answer in the comments!