Power politics

The use of power politics implies the unscrupulous use of issues to make political capital for a particular party in order to obtain or maintain power. It differs from political opportunism in being a long-term activity, an undeclared part of party policy or a trend, and in being solely a group activity. The ultimate implication of power politics is political dictatorship, but it more often constitutes a barrier to political progress, inducing political apathy and alienation and serving to maintain existing social inequalities.