Discuss how Swift criticizes politics in England.

Gulliver seems to be of the notion that more politics within a country means they are more corrupt. As seen in several of his adventures the Lilliputians were very politically driven and eventually ran him out of town due to corrupt people holding high power. The only society that didn’t have a huge political undertone was the Houyhnhnms While they had a loose political stance, it was only for the benefit of all Houyhnhnms, since they had no literal concept of deceit.

In short, Gulliver (and thus Swift) detests politics. He offers many examples of how those in power use their political power and position to levy jobs for their family members and friends, often placing inept people in power simply because of who they are related to. Secondly, he illustrates that those in power often exploit those who have less power for their own gain, mainly because they can get away with it, and also because they enjoy the sense of power it gives them.

He introduces the idea of 'might versus right' in many of the various cultures that his character, Gulliver, visits. The advantage of 'might' is shown when he is the giant living in Lilliput, but when he is in Brobdingnag, he is the smallest. In both cases the physical ability of someone to place others under a constant state of fear is shown to be an ineffective way to govern. It eventually leads to rebellion and war.

Swift also pokes fun at the governments of his day in that he states that those who often come into power are the least qualified for the job, having no prior training that would make them fit for the post. Swift uses the islands of Lilliput, Luggnagg, and Laputa as extreme examples of power corrupting absolutely and what the consequences are to the poor people who must live under such rule.