Introduction
Since ancient times, there has been a close interaction between politics and political structures and societal structures especially religions, communities, and families. Currently, politics and political structures define social institutions like schools, universities, churches, and the corporate world.
In accordance with the doctrines of Paine and Rousseau, the US civil rights movement is an example of enlightenment revolution in politics whereby, the oppressed citizens try to seek out for their rights through formation of social groups or contracts
Politics, political structure, and the society
The organization of all societies is in line with the politics and political structures of a country. The political influence, impact, and stability define the society’s quality. Politics or government determines the stability of any social institution whether private or public. The government runs major social institutions like academic and health institutions.
Political appointees, either board of directors or a director head most institutions in the society. Therefore, either directly or indirectly, the institutions comply with government orders therefore losing their independence, which should not be the case.
Similarly, all funds for public institutions are from the government’s budget. Therefore, when either there is corruption in form of bribery, nepotism, or racial affiliations among others, the first perpetrators of the vices are the politicians.
Self-centered, corrupt, and ‘poor’ political leaders neglect the well-being of the public, which leads to public demonstrations and riots in the society. On the other hand, when the political leaders are transparent, then the society experiences a robust economic growth.
Politics define the stability and the upward growth of a nation because the government controls all funds both in private and in public sector through establishment of ministries and the subsequent monitoring of the private sector.
Through the constitutions and other laws, the government indirectly runs all institutions including churches and families. Finally, all institutions contain hierarchical systems in their administration, which represents political structure.
US civil rights movement as political revolution
The US civil rights movement led to the establishment of small social groups to demand for their rights. According to Rousseau, “man is born free, everywhere he is in chains” (Wraight10), but the formation of social groups to voice out their rights is the best way to fight for freedom.
Different groups like the Black Panther Party, Weatherman, and the Young Lords aimed at fighting for the rights of the minority groups in both public and private sectors. Additionally, the social groups were not only fighting for their rights, but also fought for political revolution in the U.S.
The groups gained political prowess in different states leading to their ban on grounds that they were a threat to the government and/or national security. Rousseau asserts that in order to achieve freedom or individual rights, man must work with others (Wraight 20).
Similarly, Paine argues that people should form political groups to air out their grievances especially when the government does not fulfill their rights (Paine Para.). Therefore, the formation of social and political groups by the civil servants in the US not only complies with Paine and Rousseau’s insights, but also promotes political revolution.
Conclusion
In summary, politics define the society in terms of both funds and management. Therefore, any default in the government directly affects the societal institutions and economic growth of a nation. On the other hand, the civil rights movement in the U.S not only represents the fights for minorities’’ rights, but also the political revolution.
Works Cited
Paine, Thomas. “The Rights of Man.” Independence Hall Association, 1990.
Wraight, Christopher. Rousseau’s The Social Contract: A Reader’s Guide. London: Continuum Books, 2008.