There have been many vehicles predicted to bring about the greatest change on earth. Nelson Mandela said it was education; many consider it to be technology and the AI revolution. Both views are very valid.
However, there is an institution that turns the wheels of these mechanisms(and more). That all-important institution is politics. Politics is more than an avenue for electing leaders. It is the engine that drives the course of a society’s development.
As Cersei Lannister rightly said, “power is power,” and at its core, politics is about power: who wields it, how it is utilized, and to what ends. This power shapes the very foundations of society, its norms, its economy, its cultural identity and the societal outcomes.
In the area of social transformation, politics defines what is acceptable and what is not. Perfect examples are the fight for Nigeria’s independence, the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and the fight for racial equality in the United States.
These movements, though driven by passionate men and women, struggled to bear fruits when actively resisted by the ruling powers, and only found true impact when translated into political action. The 1960 Independence, the anti-apartheid laws, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S. were not merely symbolic victories.
They restructured institutions, redefined equality, and reset the social compasses of societies. Without a doubt, political decisions are capable of dismantling long-standing systems of oppression, redefining rights, and uplifting marginalized voices.
Politics also plays a crucial role in economic transformation. Every major economic policy —whether it concerns trade, international relations and taxation — is a political decision. Actions of political leaders, like fuel subsidy removal, have significant economic ramifications.
Political leadership determines whether a nation embraces capitalism, socialism, or other economic models, and these choices have direct implications for poverty, employment, innovation, and wealth distribution.
Culture, often perceived as an apolitical element of society, is also deeply intertwined with politics. Cultural identities, languages, and ideologies can be nurtured or suppressed based on political agendas. For example, colonial policies across Africa, Asia, and the Americas often involved
deliberate cultural erasure, banning native dialects, enforcing foreign education systems, and reordering traditional governance structures. For instance, the cultural imperialism and assimilation policy of France in the era of colonialism reshaped the cultures of the multiple now Francophone nations across Africa. In contemporary society, decisions on media regulation, education curriculum, and religious freedom laws continue to shape cultural discourse and identity.
Importantly, politics is not static. It evolves with societal demands. Technology, climate change, and global events have introduced new political challenges and opportunities. The response to COVID-19, for instance, varied significantly from country to country, highlighting how political systems and leadership styles directly impact public health, economic strength, and social systems.
This makes politics not just a mirror of society’s values but a mold that shapes how it survives and thrives amid crises.
Critically, the power of politics lies in its ability to bridge the abstract and the practical. While economic theories and social ideals can remain trapped in academic discourse, politics turns them into action. It builds schools, enforces laws, protects citizens’ rights, and supports cultural institutions. It turns visions into reality.
Yet, with this great power comes great risk. When politics is driven by corruption or incompetence, it can hinder progress and deepen societal divisions. The same political structures that can enact positive transformation can also enforce oppression, stagnation, and conflict.
That is why active participation, accountability, and democratic values are essential, not only to protect rights but to guide politics toward positive transformation.
Politics does not simply respond to change; it often initiates and steers it. Whether reshaping norms, determining economic direction, or influencing culture, politics is the dominant force behind a society’s evolution. Every major leap forward, every painful regression, and every turning point in history has had politics at its epicenter. In recognizing this, we must also realize our role within it.
Citizens are not passive observers but active participants in the political process. The choices we make — at the ballot box, in political discussions, through activism, or through our apathy — determine the trajectory of our society. To understand society is to understand politics, and to shape a better future, we must engage with it, question it, and demand that it lives up to its immense power for transformation.
Michael Paul is a 600L student of Medicine at the University of Ibadan UI), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
