Definition – Politics
refers to the activities associated with the governance of a country, region or city, in particular the debate between different political parties, organisations and people who try to influence the way a country is governed.
Relevance to SUMP – SUMP practitioners should check with local decision makers and key stakeholders with a say in relevant policy fields to what extent SUMP objectives are in line with the current political agenda. Alignment between SUMP objectives and current high profile topics, e.g. traffic congestion or air pollution, can help secure political commitment to planning processes and the implementation of measures. This does not mean that other mobility related problems, as identified through a participatory approach to planning, should be neglected in SUMP preparation.
Source: Cambridge Dictionaires (online); Oxford Dictionaries (online)