politics by maha ahmed

Politics

Prepared by /Maha Esmeal Ahmed

21 Dec/2009

Contents :

1- Politics . 2-Politics History. 3- Politics of Sudan. 4- Legal system in sudan. 5- Legal system in sudan . 6- Politics and every Day Life. 7- Basic Concept of Politics . 8- How politics is studied. 9-What purposes for Politics. 10-Government function. 11-What is political.

Politics: Politics is a process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions. It consists of (social relations involving authority or power)and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. The word (Politics) comes from the Greek word (polis) meaning city state. The Greek word(Politikos) describes anything concerning the state or city affairs. In Latin, this was (politicus) and in French(politique). Thus it became (politics) in Middle English (1).

Politics History: From a historical perspective societies in need of government have moved from the primitive to the patriarchal state and finally to the military, the real politics of modern times. The origin and development of government institutions is the most visible subject for the study of Politics and its history(1). The word politics comes from the Greek word (polis), meaning the state or community as a whole. The concept of the (polis) was an ideal state and came from the writings of great political thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. In his novel (The Republic) Plato describes the ideal state and the means to achieve it. Hence, the word politics originally has connotations in the ways in which to create the ideal society. An ideal society is in practice a rather difficult aim and even an impossible aim to achieve. Politics implies measures which could and should in the views of their devisor be implemented in the hope to create a better society, than that which is already present.

The very fact that Plato and Aristotle saw imperfections in the societies, in which they lived, prompted them to write their political philosophies. These philosophies provided the first written recognition of politics. In his writings his (The Politics), Aristotle states that (Man is by nature a political animal) in another words, it lies deep within the instinct of man. It is almost primal. Due to his nature man should within the (polis)(2).

consider and realize his role

Politics is the study and conduct of decision making power (who got it, and who hasnot) at the inter social and societal levels.

Some even use the term politology. When considered at smaller scales, e.g within a profession, it is indistinguishable from applied ethics or specialist ethical codes for these issues see the list of ethics articles. At whatever scale, politics is the rather imperfect way that we actually do coordinate individual actions for mutual (or strictly personal) gain.

What distinguishes the political from the ethical or merely social is a much debated question. Most theorists would acknowledge that to be political, a process has to involve at least some potential for use of force or violence. Politics is about conflict that is about much more than theory and fashion. To win a political conflict always implies that one has taken power away from one group or faction to give it to another. Most would also acknowledge that political conflict can easily degrade to zero sum games, with little learned or settled by conflict other than (who won and who lost): Lenin said politics was about (who could do what to whom). As political scientist Harold Lasswell said, politics is (who gets what, when and how.) It also concerns how we resolve moral conflicts that are sufficiently serious that they constitute a risk of social disruption in which case commitment

to a common process of arbitration or diplomacy tends to reduce violence usually viewed as a key goal of civilization. Bernard Crick is a major theorist of this view and also of the idea that politics is itself simply (ethics done in public), where public institutions can agree, disagree, or intervene to achieve a desirable culmination or comprehensive (process) result. In addition to government, journalists, religious groups, special interest groups, and economic systems and conditions may all have influence on decisions. Therefore, politics touches on all these subjects. Authors of studies of politics have both reflected and influenced the political systems of the world. Today, much study of politics focuses on democracies, and how their form affects the decisions they make(3). Politics of Sudan: Officially, the politics of Sudan takes place in the framework of apresidential representative democratic consociationalist republic, where the President of Sudan is Head of State, Head of Government and Commander in Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces in a multi party system. Legislative power is vested in both the government and in the two chambers, the National Assembly (lower) and the Council of States (upper), of the bicameral National Legislature. The judiciary is independent and obtained by the Constitutional Court. However, following a deadly civil war and the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan is widely recognized as an authoritarian state where all effective political power is obtained by President Omar al Bashir and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). The political system of the Republic of Sudan was restructured following a military coup on 30 June 1989, when Omar al Bashir, then a colonel in the Sudanese Army, led a group of officers and ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al Mahdi. Under al Bashir leadership, the new military government suspended political parties and introduced an Islamic legal code on the national level.

He then became Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (a newly established body with legislative and executive powers for what was described as a transitional period), and assumed the posts of chief of state, prime minister, chief of the armed forces, and minister of defense. Further on, after institutionalizing Sharia law in the northern part of the country along with Hassan al Turabi, al Bashir issued purges and executions in the upper ranks of the army, the banning of associations, political parties, and independent newspapers and the imprisonment of leading political figures and journalists. In 1993, Sudan transformed into an Islamic totalitarian single party state as al Bashir abolished the Revolutionary Command Council and created the National Islamic Front (NIF) with a new parliament and government obtained solely by members of the NIF, and proclaimed himself President of Sudan. As a result, the Second Sudanese Civil War with the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) would only escalate in the following years. From 1983 to 1997, the country was divided into five regions in the north and three in the south. Each headed by a military governor. After a military coup in 1989, regional assemblies were suspended. With the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation abolished in 1993 and the ruling National Islamic Front (NIF) forming the National Congress Party (NCP). The new party included some non Muslim members, mainly Southern Sudanese politicians, some of whom were appointed as ministers or state governors. In 1997, the structure of regional administration was replaced by the creation of twenty six states. The executives, cabinets, and senior level state officials are appointed by the President, and their limited budgets are determined by and dispensed from Khartoum. The states, as a result, remain economically dependent upon the central government. Khartoum state, comprising the capital and outlying districts, is administered by a governor.

Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 between the government of Omar al Bashir and the SPLA. A Government of National Unity was installed in Sudan in accordance with the Interim Constitution whereby a co Vice President position representing the south was created in addition to the northern Sudanese Vice President. This allowed the north and south to split oil deposits equally, but also left both the north and south armies in place. Following the Darfur Peace Agreement, the office of senior Presidential advisor was allocated to Minni Minnawi, a Zaghawa of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), and this thus became the fourth highest constitutional post. Executive posts are divided between the National Congress Party (NCP), the Sudan People Liberation Army, Eastern Front and factions of the Umma Party and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). This peace agreement with the rebel group Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) granted Southern Sudan autonomy for six years, to be followed by a referendum about independence in 2011. According to the new 2005 constitution, the bicameral NationalLegislature is the official Sudanese parliament, and is divided between two chambers,the National Assembly, a lower house with 450 seats, and the Council of States. An upper house with 50 seats. Thus the parliament consists of 500 appointed members altogether, where all are indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six year terms. Despite his international arrest warrant, Omar al Bashir is a candidate in the upcoming 2010 Sudanese presidential election, the first democratic election with multiple political parties participating in nine years. His political rival is Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, current leader of the SPLA(4). Legal system in Sudan : The legal system is based on English common law and Islamic law, as of January 20, 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states.

Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion, some separate religious courts, accepts compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction, with reservations(5). Politics and every Day Life: Politics is about the way human beings govern and governed . Politics affect our lives in countless ways on a daily basis(6). Basic Concept of Politics : Politics has been variously defined as the art of the possible . As the study of who gets what ,when ,and how as the authoritative allocation values ,and in countless other ways . Like any other branch of human knowledge ,political science the ystematic study of politics has alexicon and language all its own . Important words that carry a lot of political freight :Power,order,and justice(6). Power: The ability of government ,and governmental leaders ,to make and enforce rules and to influence the behavior of individuals or groups by rewarding or punishing certain behaviors constitutes one important from power(6). Governments cannot maintain peace ,guarantee security ,promote economic growth ,or pursue effective policies with out power(6). Order: Order exists on several levels. Politically ,order denotes the structures ,rules ,rituals ,procedures ,and practices that comprise apolitical system (6). Justice: The fact that the governors are always vastly outnumbered by the governed gives rise to competing and some times conflicting claims regarding the fairness of governments policies and programs(6). How politics is studied:

The Greek philosopher Aristotle is afather of political science. Not only did he write about politics and ethics,but he also described different political orders and suggested ascheme for classifying and evaluating them. Today, there is no consensus on how politics can best be studied . The result is multifaceted disciplinewith different political scientists choosing different scientists choosing different approaches ,asking different kinds of questions ,and addressing different audiences (6). What purposes for Politics: The study of politics is no different from the study of biology, history, or psychology. Just as student in other disciplines seek answers to basic questions so political scientists seek answers to questions to rigorous empirical investigation of the kind employed in the natural sciences (6). Government function: 1- Rule Making: making what are normally called law or orders or even constitutions . This rules define what is legal and illegal ,what actions are required ,and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. 2- Rule Execution: Rules must be enforced and carried out if they are to have impact. 3- Other functions: Making excuting and applying rules are the most basic functions of government . Governments must be able to communicate with their citizens.People must be aware of laws if they are obey them ,and they must know about new program if they are to participate in them(7).

List of political parties in Sudan: Sudan has several political parties which have very little political power, except the two ruling partners, the National Congress and the SPLM.

Opposition political parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no chance of gaining influence. 1-The Democratic Unionist Party (Al Hizb Al Ittihadi Al Dimuqrati) is the oldest political party in Sudan. Sudan first President Ismail al Azhari was a member of the party when it was known as the National Unionist Party. It was in 1967, in the house of its patron Sir Sayyid Ali AlMirghani, that Al Azhari declared the new party under the name,Democratic Unionist Party in the presence of the current leader Al Sayyid Muhammad Othman Al Mirghani and the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The party main platform is in favour of the unity of Sudan and previously Sudan and Egypt the downstream Nile River riparians. The head of the Sudan DUP is Al Sayyid Muhammad Othman Al Mirghani. He is also the head of the Khatmiya Sufi order and a descendant of the prophet Muhammad. The DUP is the only Sudanese party to have ever solely governed the country through democratic elections (1953) winning 58 seats followed by the Umma Party with 22 seats. It is seen as the only major sudanese party that has not participated in a coup detat in Sudan since its independence. In the last democratic elections (in 1984) the party won the largest number of votes and came second in the number of seats won in parliament. The party has long standing relations with the SPLM with whom it signed the Peace Deal of November 1988 in Ethiopia which was then opposed by the NIF party. It also enjoys good relationships with almost all the Sudanese political groups. The last legislative elections, December 2000, were boycotted by the party, as most of the political groups, described as unfair and rigged. Through the National Democratic Alliance it played a major role in the opposition to the NIF regime in Sudan during 1989-2005 until the signing of the Cairo Peace Agreement between the NDA and the government of Sudan.

As a consequence of its stances the DUP has suffered continuous attempts to divide and weaken it by the Sudanese security forces and the ruling party of Sudan, which seem to have failed so far. Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLM and the government of Sudan. The party position has shifted towards a more mediatory role attempting to realign the old and new opposition parties in a comprehensive stance to tackle the broader sudanese issues such as unity. Elections and transition into democracy avoiding polarisation which it views as damaging to the long term interests of the country. It continues to view the National Democratic Alliance as a long term alliance that could rightly guide the political movement in Sudan(8).

2-The Umma Party ( translated into English as Nation Party) is a Islamic centrist political party in Sudan. It was formed in 1945 as the party striving after independence of Sudan. Sadiq al Mahdi was a prominent leader of the faction through much of the last century. Today there are five active political factions of the Umma Party each claiming political legitimacy. The most prominent of these factions is the Umma Party (Reform and Renewal) headed by Mubarak al Fadil al Mahdi, who is the first cousin of Sadiq al Mahdi and former Interior Minister when the Umma Party was last in power under Sadiq as Prime Minister from 1986 to 1989. Another faction of the Umma Party (Reform and Renewal) is led by Information Minister Alzahawi Ibrahim Maalik. Another faction of the Umma Party (General Leadership) is led by Dr. al Sadiq al Hadi al Mahdi, who is the first cousin of Sadiq al Mahdi. Dr al Sadiq is the son of Imam al Hadi al Mahdi who led a faction of the Umma Party that rivaled a faction that was led by Sadiq al Mahdi in the 1960s. Dr al Sadiq is an advisor to the President of Sudan.

The Umma Party (General Leadership) is part of the current government and has agreed to continue cooperation with Sudan ruling National Congress Party in the mid interim period after 2008. The last faction of the Umma Party is the Federal Umma Party, led by Ahmad Babiker Nahar, the current minister of Environment and Physical Development(8). 3- The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a group of 13 political parties that formed in 1989 to oppose the new regime of Omar Hassan al Bashir after he seized power in a military coup on June 6, 1989. The NDA signed a deal with the Sudanese government on June 18, 2005, following a peace agreement to the Second Sudanese Civil War on January 9, 2005. Some issues have yet to be resolved by opposing factions, including the conflict and humanitarian issues in the war torn region of Darfur. After further violent clashes in the east, a separate peace deal was signed with the Beja Congress in October 2006(8).

4- The Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) and its political wing, the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) known collectively as Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) is a predominantly Christian Sudanese rebel movement turned political party. Based in Southern Sudan, SPLA/M fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese government from 1983 to 2005. In 1989 it joined the main opposition group in Sudan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which in January 2005 signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Sudanese government. SPLA/M has since had representatives in the Government of Sudan, as well as being the main constituent of the Government of the semiautonomous Southern Sudan. It was led by John Garang until his death on 30 July 2005. It is now led by Salva Kiir Mayardit who is also the President of Southern Sudan and Vice President of Sudan(8). 5- The Liberal Democrats is a political party in Sudan. At the last legislative elections, December 2000, the party won one seat. At the presidential elections of the same moment, its candidate Dr. Al Samuel Hussein Osman Mansour won 1.0% of the votes(8).

6- The National Congress or National Congress Party (NCP) al Mu tamar al WaášanIi) is the governing official political party of Sudan. It is headed by Omar al Bashir, who has been President of Sudan since he seized power in a military coup on 30 June 1989, and began institutionalizing Sharia law at a national level. The party followes ideologies such as Islamism, nationalism, populism and conservatism, however, international human rights groups and governments claim it attempts to create an Islamic totalitarian state through their dictatorial government (8).

7- Sudanese Baath Party an underground political party in Sudan. The party was previously a branch of the Iraqi based Baath Party, but after the fall of the Saddam Hussein government the party has made itself independent. The party cooperates with other opposition forces against the regime in Sudan(8). 8- The Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) is a Communist political party in the Republic of Sudan. Founded in 1946, it was a major force in Sudanese politics (and one of the two most influential Communist parties in the Arab world, with the Iraqi Communist Party) until 1971, when military ruler Gaafar al Nimeiry launched a wave of repression against the party after a failed coup implicated the involvement of some Communist officers. Abdel Khaliq Mahjub, Joseph Garang, Alshafi Ahmed Elshikh, Babkir Elnour, Hashim Elatta (the best known party leaders), were executed. As of 2006, the SCP is led by Muhammad Ibrahim Nugud and plays only a marginal role. Nugud however claims the party enjoys support from a wide section of Sudanese society, including workers, farmers, students, womens groups, minority groups, in the Nuba Mountains, in the South and in Darfur. Human rights activist Suleman Hamid El Haj is the assistant secretary and spokesman for the party. It advocates a return to democratic rule and opposes the possible secession of Southern Sudan. The freer political climate has allowed the party to be more active since the the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Party leader Muhammad Ibrahim Nugud came out of two decade hiding.

Party members suffering during the decades of NIF rule had pleaded him to be more active but Nugud feared arrest. Nugud visited Juba, Southern Sudan on the 28th of November, 2008 for the first time in two decades at the invitation of Southern communists. The trip was aimed at bolstering the activities of the SCP in southern Sudan. He was received by SPLM Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Ann Itto. The SCP and South African Communist Party recently jointly launched the African Left Network meeting in order to facilitate greater corporation amongst African Communist parties(8). 9- The United Democratic Liberal Party is a political party in Sudan. The party was formed through the merger of four parties, Sudan Liberal Party, Sudanese Democratic Movement, Movement of New Democratic Forces United Leadership and the Sudanese Democratic Party on September 4, 2008. The party ideology is Social Liberalism. The Interim Political Council of the UDLP has elected 4/10/2008 Mrs. Nour Tawir Kafi Abu Ras, as the head of the Interim Political Council and as President of the Executive Committee. The Interim Political Council has also elected the party executive committee. Mrs. Nour Tawir was born in Kadugli South Kordofan. She is a veteran in the struggle for the rights of the citizens of the Nuba Mountains, Kordofan and the whole Sudanese citizens. She studied Ethnography and English Literature in the University of Khartoum. She led many civic and political organizations over the last past two decades. She was The President of the Executive Committee of the Sudan Liberal Party which merged with other organizations to form UDLP. Mrs. Nour Tawir is working now as a journalist at several newspapers in Khartoum, over her duties as President of the Leading Office and Executive Committee of United Democratic Liberal Party. Members of the Executive Committee of the United Democratic Liberal Party as elected by the Interim Political Council of UDLP. 1. Mrs. Nour Tawir Kafi : President 2. Mrs. Ihlam Mahdi: acting Secretary General. 3. Mr. Ahmed Khatir, Secretary of Information Office and Vice President

4. Mr. Al Sir Al Nageeb: Secretary of the Political Office 5. Mr. Martin Madol: Secretary of foreign relations 6. Mr. Abdullah Aidroos: Secretary of Management and Administration 7. Mr. Mutaz Salih: secretary of Civil and humanitarian work 8. Mr. Abdul Rahman Abdel Saeed : Financial Office secretary 9. Mr. Adil Abdel Aati: Secretary of Studies and Research.(8). Politics guestions: Political scientists ask many different types of guestions such as :why do nations go to war? Why do some people participate actively in politics while other do not ?why do some countries have only two major political parties while the other have many more? How do interest group affect public policy ? why do some public policy ?why do some policies achieve their objectives while the other do not ? These guestions deal with acommon theme of how socities choose and the reslult of those choices(9). What is political: There is no widely agreed upon definition of what is political. A definition that seems fruitful is to hold that political processes concern bridging power differences with society with those within the state, bridges that carry inputs both from society to the state (e.g , the results of elections) and from the state to society (e.g ,Presidential speeches). Note also that only once society and state are systematically separated can one analyze the relationship between the two realms. I proceed next to examine key attributes of the political realm, including its limits. The political is not the social. Ever since Aristotle advanced the thesis that human beings are by nature political animals. There has been a tendency to fold the social into the political. Moreover, when considering a small polis, one could readily collapse state and society and cause relatively limited damage to political and social analysis. However, such reduction of two essential concepts to one is much more trouble some when one deals with much larger and more complex societies. Nevertheless, there is a common tendency to confound state and society by folding into the(political) numerous processes and actions and institutions that are inherently social(10) .

Referance:

1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics(2009.12.16).

2- http://www.allfreeessays.com/essays/Politics/902.html(2009.12.16). 3- http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Politics/(2009.12.16)

4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Sudan(2009.12.16) 5- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Sudan#Executive_branch(200.12.1 6)

6- ThomasM.Magstadt(2006)UndrstandingPolitics:Ideas,Institutions, &Isses.United state of America :Thomson Wadsworth pp (2-10). 7- Marcus E.Ethridge(2004) Politics In Changing World :Acoparative Introduction To Political Science.Canda:Clark Baxter(pp 5-6). 8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Unionist_Party_(Sudan)(2009.12.1 8) 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;R.Kenneth Godwin &John C.Wahlke(1997) Introduction to Political Science Reason,Reflection,and analysis. United state of America: Christopher P.Klein (pp4-5) 10-Aristotle (1984): The Politics. Trans. Carnes Lard, Chicago. pp, 7-14.