Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Middle French & [[Latin]]; Middle French, from [[Latin]] ''faction''-, ''factio'' [[act]] of making, faction — more at [[fashion]].

Middle French & [[Latin]]; Middle French, from [[Latin]] ''faction''-, ''factio'' [[act]] of making, faction — more at [[fashion]].

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1509]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1509]

The [[Latin]] word ''factio'' denoted originally either of the chariot teams that were organised professionally by private companies in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome ancient Rome], each recognizable by characteristic colour, and arousing supporter hysteria similar to that in [[modern]] sports fans. These teams were not unlike [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_school gladiator schools], but the lethal nature of that [[entertainment]] meant few performers lasted long enough to build up similar crowd [[loyalty]] to the "team", while the fighters rarely actually teamed up, but rather fought duels or beasts. In time, [[political]] currents could become associated with such a team, although precisely how this happened is unclear. In [[Byzantine]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople], two such chariot factions, blue and green, repeatedly made or broke the claims of [[candidates]] to the imperial throne.

The [[Latin]] word ''factio'' denoted originally either of the chariot teams that were organised professionally by private companies in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome ancient Rome], each recognizable by characteristic colour, and arousing supporter hysteria similar to that in [[modern]] sports fans. These teams were not unlike [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_school gladiator schools], but the lethal nature of that [[entertainment]] meant few performers lasted long enough to build up similar crowd [[loyalty]] to the "team", while the fighters rarely actually teamed up, but rather fought duels or beasts. In time, [[political]] currents could become associated with such a team, although precisely how this happened is unclear. In [[Byzantine]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople], two such chariot factions, blue and green, repeatedly made or broke the claims of [[candidates]] to the imperial throne.

Occasionally, the term "faction" is still used more or less as a synonym for [[political]] party, but "with opprobrious sense, conveying the imputation of [[selfish]] or mischievous ends or [[turbulent]] or unscrupulous [[methods]]", according to the [[Oxford English Dictionary]]. In his Dictionary, [[Samuel Johnson]] (a Tory) dismissively defined [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_(disambiguation) Whig] as "the name of a faction". Similarly, in the tenth instalment of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_Papers Federalist Papers], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison James Madison] defines a faction as "a [[number]] of [[citizens]], whether amounting to a [[minority]] or [[majority]] of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common [[impulse]] of [[passion]], or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and [[aggregate]] interests of the [[community]]." In plain English this is a group that pursues [[self interest]] at the expense of the common good.

Occasionally, the term "faction" is still used more or less as a synonym for [[political]] party, but "with opprobrious sense, conveying the imputation of [[selfish]] or mischievous ends or [[turbulent]] or unscrupulous [[methods]]", according to the [[Oxford English Dictionary]]. In his Dictionary, [[Samuel Johnson]] (a Tory) dismissively defined [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whig_(disambiguation) Whig] as "the name of a faction". Similarly, in the tenth instalment of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_Papers Federalist Papers], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison James Madison] defines a faction as "a [[number]] of [[citizens]], whether amounting to a [[minority]] or [[majority]] of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common [[impulse]] of [[passion]], or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and [[aggregate]] interests of the [[community]]." In plain English this is a group that pursues [[self interest]] at the expense of the common good.

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a party or group (as within a [[government]]) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique

*1: a party or group (as within a [[government]]) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique

Factions are not limited to [[political]] parties; they can and frequently do form within any [[group]] that has some sort of political aim or [[purpose]].

Factions are not limited to [[political]] parties; they can and frequently do form within any [[group]] that has some sort of political aim or [[purpose]].

The aims of a political faction are as [[diverse]] as the different types of bodies within which they appear. Typically, however, they include: advancing a particular [[policy]] or policy [[agenda]], preventing the adoption of alternative policies and supporting given [[individuals]] to [[positions]] of [[power]] within the [[organization]] or in the wider political world. A faction can primarily be based around supporting a given person or group, or a single major aim, with little in the way of common agenda otherwise, or it can have a comprehensive and definitive set of policies. Either way, factional [[politics]] typically revolve around [[personality]], with a few individuals playing key roles, acting as a [[magnet]] for like-minded people, leading the activities of the faction, and acting as a prominent [[voice]] for the shared objectives of the faction. Such individuals can be referred to by a variety of names, such as “powerbrokers” or “factional chiefs”.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_faction]

The aims of a political faction are as [[diverse]] as the different types of bodies within which they appear. Typically, however, they include: advancing a particular [[policy]] or policy [[agenda]], preventing the adoption of alternative policies and supporting given [[individuals]] to [[positions]] of [[power]] within the [[organization]] or in the wider political world. A faction can primarily be based around supporting a given person or group, or a single major aim, with little in the way of common agenda otherwise, or it can have a comprehensive and definitive set of policies. Either way, factional [[politics]] typically revolve around [[personality]], with a few individuals playing key roles, acting as a [[magnet]] for like-minded people, leading the activities of the faction, and acting as a prominent [[voice]] for the shared objectives of the faction. Such individuals can be referred to by a variety of names, such as “powerbrokers” or “factional chiefs”.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_faction]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]