Concepts and writings are not timeless and should instead be understood in terms of the historical context in which they developed. Ideology is a political belief-system which explains the world as it currently is and suggests how it should be changed. The term describes social classes, especially that of capitalism or bourgeoisie. Ideology is recognised as the means by which people perceive the social world and consciously subscribe to a political creed. Idealism is a set of views according to which the physical world is dependent upon the mind; we somehow create the world. Idealists are not saying that our experience of the world is other than what it is; simply a collection of 'ideas' that are coherent. Politics is the study and practice of how people are governed. Efforts are made to influence, gain, or wield power at various levels of government, internally and internationally, including dispute resolution, formal elections to the threat or use of outright coercion or force.