"Politics teachers are looking for a definition of politics that is as far-reaching as possible, that encompasses and integrates as many aspects and elements of political reality as possible and that structures and systemizes them at the same time. All this is offered by a view that fundamentally describes politics in a multi-dimensional and structured way. It draws a distinction between the three dimensions of politics namely: the institutional dimension (polity), the normative substance-based dimension (policy) and the procedural dimension (politics). We take this to mean the following:

'First of all politics has ... a institutional dimension, which is determined by the constitution, the legal system and tradition. The principles which serve in forming a political will are also channeled through institutions: elections, fundamental rights, freedom of opinion, parties and associations. ... the room for manoeuvre and action is pegged out by the institutions. The word used for this institutional dimension of the political process is polity.

Politics also has a second normative, substance-based dimension, which refers to the political objectives, tasks and issues. The way in which politics is structured and the way in which it sets out to fulfill its tasks is dependent on interests. ... (This means) that the room for manoeuvre in terms of structuring political substance is filled with the seeds of conflict. This substance-based political dimension is referred to as policy.

And thirdly, politics has a procedural dimension, which aims to mediate interests through conflict and consensus. Forming a political will or opinion is a continuous process and cannot be understood by studying the institutional or substantive dimensions in isolation. ... The third dimension of the political process is known as politics .' (Ulrich von Alemann)

When taken together, all three of these dimensions - the institutional, the normative substance-based and the procedural process - conspire to make up that which can be defined as politics."

[Politikdidaktik kurzgefasst. Planungsfragen für den Politikunterricht, published by Federal Centre for Political Education, series Bd. 326, Bonn 1994; p. 20-21]

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