Domestic politics meaning
Domestic politics is in everyone’s mouth, but its meaning is vague. So, we’re going to clarify what it is and why it is important. And we’re going to do it right now.
Today, I want to speak about domestic politics.
Yes, domestic politics. And it has nothing to do with how to manage household chores.
On the contrary, it has to do with the social realm, where binding decisions take place. And here is the point. Why do we talk about domestic politics?. Why is it important?. In other words, how does domestic politics affect us in our daily life?.
First of all, we have to discuss why we speak about domestic politics. That is to say, why we don’t call it just politics. The reason is simple. A political community entails the existence of two different domains: the inner and the external.
You may wonder, why is this?. The answer is the principle of territoriality. Nowadays, the world is divided into territorial political units. We call them states. They form the state system that articulates the international realm. In some way, this is something relatively new, because most of history there were just empires, city-states, and tribes. The state system was born in western Europe in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia.
I know you might ask yourself, what is the Peace of Westphalia?. I don’t want to go into this, and for now, I’ll tell you it was a treaty signed after the Thirty Years War. This war was a bloody quest for hegemony in western Europe. No one could win it, so they had to come to terms with this situation by rejecting the existence of any superior authority above states.
Before the Peace of Westphalia, there weren’t clear borders between countries. Even after 1648, these borders were still blurry, because cartography hadn’t developed enough, and maps were inaccurate. However, the territorial principle was settled, and it was linked to the idea of sovereignty. All of this meant that each state started to have the right to rule its territory without external interference. Actually, from 1648 on, states didn’t recognize any superior authority, so, they claimed an exclusive right over their land.
The principle of territoriality established the distinction between the inner and the external spheres. In political terms, it was the emergence of domestic politics, considered a specific realm where a single authority rules a territory and its inhabitants. Hence, the specificity of domestic politics depends on territoriality, and, in particular, on the existence of political boundaries that define the geographical extension of the political community and its jurisdiction.
We have seen different concepts so far, such as territoriality, sovereignty, and inner and external realms. They helped us outline domestic politics. But let’s take one more step.
The birth of the modern state made possible the clear distinction between the inner realm and the international sphere. But we can’t define this distinction exclusively in functional terms. It’s also conceptual because it’s supposed both fields have different rules. The international realm is autonomous, in the way that its nature is anarchical because there is no central authority above national governments. So, multiple interactions between different units of the state system form this field.
However, domestic politics is entirely different. Its realm is a territory where exists a central authority that regulates social relations. Hence, there is a set of laws that shape the social order. If someone breaks the law, this person is brought to heel. In this way, the realm of domestic politics is the domain of order, stability, and justice. As a result, everything in this realm is much more predictable, because there are clear laws, and authority is enforcing them.
With this explanation, we are ready to define domestic politics. Then we will be able to know why it is essential.
What’s domestic politics?. It’s the politics that takes place inside the territory of a specific political community. If you still don’t know what politics is, you should have a look at this video.
Territorial boundaries define the geographical scope of this kind of politics, and this is what makes the management of the public affairs in this area its main purpose. That is the reason which explains why we speak about domestic politics.
And now, it’s time to explain why domestic politics is important. As we have already seen, it has to do with the social order, so, it is the domain in which binding decisions on society take place. Therefore, domestic politics shape social relations insofar as it regulates them. By doing this, it defines not only what is forbidden, but also the institutions and structures that organize the whole society, as well as the public policies in certain fields.
As you can see, domestic politics has a significant impact on society. It determines who rules the country, the way someone has access to power, how to pass laws, how to make public policies, who enforces the law, and so on.
The distinction between the inner and external realm in politics is useful. It displays the different ways both domains work. At this point arises an important question. Does such a distinction mean the absence of any connection between them?.
From the realist perspective, namely the international relations theory, this distinction is radical and doesn’t admit any connection. Other authors, however, claimed this distinction illustrates the modern geopolitical mindset, as clear evidence of the so-called territorial trap. Nevertheless, things are more complex, and they are not a matter of black and white. So, the answer to this question will be given in the next article.
Question of the day
Question of the day!. How do you think domestic politics are interrelated to the international realm?. Post your opinion in the comments section below, and I will read it.
Bibliography used:
Agnew, John, Geopolitics: re-visioning world politics
Morgenthau, Hans J., Politics among nations: the struggle for power and peace
Storey, David, Territory: The Claiming of Space
Hinsley, Francis H., Sovereignty
Vallès, Josep M., Ciencia Política: Una introducción
Giddens, Anthony, The Nation-State and Violence
Waltz, Kenneth N., Man, the State, and War
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