WHAT IS POLITICS?

Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. It is the authoritative allocation of values. Although the term is generally applied to behaviour within governments, politics is observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions.

In its most basic form, politics consists of “social relations involving authority or power”. In practice, the term refers to the regulation and government of a nation-state or other political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply government policy.
In a broader sense, any situation involving power, or any manoeuvring in order to enhance one’s power or status within a group, may be described as politics (e.g. office politics). This form of politics “is most associated with a struggle for ascendancy among groups having different priorities and power relations.”
Political science (also political studies) is the study of political behaviour and examines the acquisition and application of power. Related areas of study include political philosophy, which seeks a rationale for politics and an ethic of public behaviour, and public administration, which examines the practices of governance.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

Terms like right and left, liberal and conservative, socialist, communist, anarchist, etc. are used frequently in political discussions. But people frequently misunderstand or confuse the actual political ideologies that these terms refer to.

Political ideology is a certain ethical, set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explain how society should work, and offer some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.

What is a liberal?
One who believes the national government should be active in promoting health, education, justice, and equal opportunity.

What is a conservative?
One who believes government should be limited except in supporting traditional values and promoting freedom of opportunity.

What is a moderate?
 One whose beliefs fall somewhere between liberal and conservative views.

What is a radical? A reactionary?
The term Radical as a label in political science for those favouring or trying to produce
thoroughgoing political reforms which can include changes to the social order to a greater or lesser extent. Reactionary (or reactionist) is a political epithet typically applied to extreme ideological conservatism, especially that which wishes to return to a real or imagined old order of things, and which is willing to use coercive means to do so.

Where are you on the political ideology spectrum?
I don’t really think I have a set political ideology, I tend to determine my position issue by issue rather than follow a strict ideology, but I guess if I have to label myself, so far from what I know, I think I’m more of a moderate.Your political ideology, your set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society in general.

To be Leftist or agree with the Left political point of view is synonymous with being liberal. To be Rightist or agree with the Right political point of view is synonymous with being conservative. The Left and Right terms were created because political ideology is viewed on a continuum; most people generally hold views somewhere in the middle. For example, if you agree more with liberal ideas, you're considered more Leftist in your thinking. The graphic below illustrates the continuum:

Liberal (Left) <------------------- Moderate (Middle) -------------------> Conservative (Right)