The idea of power is very much at the center of political science -- a field that focuses on the study of the structure and activities of government. After all, it is with power that the leaders of a country can rule over its people and groups. Harold D. Laswell, in his classic definition, cited politics simply as "who gets what, when, and how." In studying politics, political scientists analyze how power is structured and used, as well as which groups of people or institutions (i.e. elements of government or society) are able to wield the most influence in making decisions for the rest of society.

Governments first and foremost serve to maintain order in society, to make decisions for its people based on certain goals and purposes. It follows that governments need power to get its people to do things that they otherwise would not do. Without abilities of coercion, for example, governments would not be able to collect the necessary taxes that allow them to build schools and maintain roadways.

The power, or strength, of a government over its own citizens varies widely. Also important in considering a government's power is influence it has over other nations. It was the Western powers, as a matter of a fact, who played a central role in influencing much of Asia during the first part of the 20th century. Those nations were able to establish empires and rule over other nations and peoples. All in all, governments range in size and scope -- from clans and tribes to the modern superpowers that dominate international affairs and sway the agendas of numerous other governments. Likewise, even within a nation, governments can operate at many levels, from villages and cities to counties and states.

In the 20th century, Asia has made world headlines in the area of government and politics because of one key reason: it is the only area that still has countries governed under Communism. Western nations who have Capitalistic governments have always viewed Communism as a threat. A major policy for the West for much of the century was to "contain" Communism by whatever means possible. After the Cold War, though, this harsh opinion has eased as the West realized that they did not have the power nor the resources to assert this will.

This section will detail the way governments work.