AMERICAN POLITICS

American Politics

Define of terms civic engagement and community engagement

Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement implies either an individual or a collective effort that has been made and undertaken for addressing public concerns and issues that must be resolved.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement, on the other hand, implies undertaking the macro and combined efforts of a community that benefit organizations and industries, which pertain to build and develop ongoing, permanent relationships with people in order to give benefit to the entire community. Community engagement works on a collaborative model towards the development and establishment of an effective community and the educational institutions, which shall work together on a local, regional, national and even on a global level to improve the entire country.

A discussion of the possible connections or lack of connections between civic and community engagement

Although these two are fairly similar in the context of social and societal development, a basic notion of difference must be understood between these two. Community engagement implies efforts generated on a micro level, that with reference to a specific society, while civic engagement is delivered and displayed on a larger scale, which shall contribute towards a broad spectrum of development and expansion for the country or state. Community engagement impacts a specific localized problem or issue; for example it may be within the campus, within the city or county or maybe even within the state. Civic engagement is social responsibility in a larger context, working on global or national problems or issues and instilling a life-long commitment to the resolution of those problems or similar issues.

Is it valid, for example, to argue that individual who are actively attempting to improve their own communities in practical ways might be more likely to participate in politics through voting, joining interest groups, etc.?

According to my point of view, the attempt to go towards voting, promoting rights and prerogatives and joining interest groups does fit into parameters of delivering efficacy in terms of political acts or expressions. This could be explained in the light of philosophy, with the comparison of Niccolo Machiavelli and Plato. To understand and comprehend the work of Machiavelli and Plato, a comparison has been made between them. In the eyes of Machiavelli and the narration done with reference to 'The Prince', he displays and narrates a rather ruthless concept, which would immediately ignite attention and create a rather depressing impact upon the minds of people. Followers of Machiavellianism generally portray government and politics as lethal and portray negative connotations about the words 'politicians' and 'politics'. It is because of this epic portrayal of the work that he does that the word 'Machiavellian' has been coined and become a part of the dictionary, which is used as an adjective to describe a person, who manipulates and deceives others for his own benefit and personal advantage. In the case of politics, outstanding examples of such people exist such as Saddam Hussein, Adolph Hitler and even Chingez Khan.

On the other hand, in the context of Plato, one should adopt the ...