What Does it Mean to Be Apolitical?

If you work for the government or in the military it helps to be apolitical.

According to the Macmillan dictionary, the adjective apolitical means either a) not be interested in politics or political issues or b) not connected with a particular political party.

Additional meaning

Another meaning of apolitical is to be politically neutral. This should be the case with advisers working for the government of the day. The political allegiance of the adviser should not influence his job and he needs to avoid bias.

Warning

The American military regards itself as apolitical. In January 2010 Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that it was vital that the military is "the apolitical organization we are." Mullen stressed that the military should serve the president, no matter who he is.

Historical fact

German novelist Thomas Mann wrote that "it is impossible to be apolitical," in an article in 1932. Mann's words took on added significance when he left Germany for Switzerland in 1933, shortly after the Nazis came to power. He continued to attack the Nazis through a series of talks and pamphlets during World War II.

References

• Macmillan Dictionary: Apolitical
• Joint Chiefs of Staff: JCS Speech
• African Writing Online: Tribute to Murogi was Kagogo
• Nobelprize: Thomas Mann