politics / policy
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politics
All actions, measures, and efforts aimed at shaping and governing public life in a state or community.
Die Regierung diskutiert über die aktuelle Wirtschafts- und Sozialpolitik.
The government is discussing current economic and social policy.
policy
A specific strategy, approach, or principle that an organization or person follows in order to achieve their goals. Often used in the context of companies or groups.
Die neue Firmenpolitik verbietet private Internetnutzung am Arbeitsplatz.
The new company policy prohibits private internet use at work.
The word family of 'Politik' (politics/policy) includes the adjective 'politisch' (political) and the personal nouns 'der Politiker' (the male politician) and 'die Politikerin' (the female politician).
Das ist eine wichtige politische Entscheidung.
That is an important political decision.
When referring to political affairs in general, 'Politik' (politics) is almost always used in the singular. The plural 'Politiken' (policies) is rare and usually refers to different concrete strategies or programs.
Er interessiert sich sehr für die aktuelle Politik in Europa.
He is very interested in current politics in Europe.
In the context of the state and government, there are fixed expressions such as 'Politik machen' (to engage in politics), 'in die Politik gehen' (to go into politics), or 'sich aus der Politik zurückziehen' (to withdraw from politics).
Sie möchte nach dem Studium in die Politik gehen.
She would like to go into politics after her studies.
You can recognize the meaning 'Strategie' (strategy) or 'Vorgehensweise' (approach) from the context. It is often made more precise by another word, as in 'Firmenpolitik' (company policy), 'Geschäftspolitik' (business policy), or 'Informationspolitik' (information policy).
Unsere Firmenpolitik erlaubt das Arbeiten von zu Hause.
Our company policy allows working from home.
government
When criticizing government action, Politik primarily refers to the course being pursued and the measures taken. Regierung, by contrast, refers to the group of people politically responsible. Choose Politik for the substance of the action and Regierung for the actors carrying it out.
Viele Bürger kritisieren die Politik zum Hochwasserschutz als zu wenig vorausschauend.
Many citizens criticize the flood-protection policy as insufficiently forward-looking.
Viele Bürger kritisieren die Regierung, weil sie beim Hochwasserschutz zu spät gehandelt hat.
Many citizens criticize the government because it acted too late on flood protection.
