Don't assume that you can't handle office politics. It can surely be managed. Here's how:
 

Share till a limit: As a rule, avoid sharing all the details of your contract with your colleagues. It is considered rather impolite to ask one's age or salary. In case a colleague insists on knowing, you can politely but firmly refuse to answer. It can avoid a lot of unwanted future clashes or misunderstandings.

Keep track: It helps to keep yourself updated with the happenings in your office. In fact, this will save you the embarrassment of taking certain actions in the reflex mode, as you’ll know the details of how is how, and therefore avoid a lot of unpleasantness in future.

Don't play with a person's reputation: If you hear that a person has got a questionable reputation in the office circle and has gossip value, you don’t have to believe in the story unless you find it out for yourself. Remember today you may be in everybody’s good books, but things may change at an instant. You may find yourself in an unpleasant situation some day and you may not be wrong, but still people may be pronouncing you a dubious personality.

Then what?

At least some people will support you then and these could be the same people whose reputations you did not shatter even while others were doing so.

Don't participate: Be detached to the drama and mess being created around you. You don’t have to start maligning a person just because others in the office are. Just observe from a distance.

Act as a mediator: If you have chosen not to participate in the office politics, as your  neutral stand will show, you surely can be of some help in the future. Your colleagues will identify you as someone who does not take sides and may take your views seriously.

If you see that the politics is creating conflict, you can offer to act as a mediator. You will see that people will be happy to let you do that and people are bound to take your jurisdiction seriously as they know you are not biased.

Interact: Interaction is the solution to many problems, especially those caused by damaging communication gaps. It can mend matters. For instance, you’ve come to  know that a colleague has been badmouthing you, but rather than returning the favour, you could actually go forward and talk directly to the concerned person. Let him or her know how you felt about what he/she said about you and chances are, he should realize his fault. Also if you have a problem where you feel that the administration is trying to push you down or is neglecting you, you can talk or voice your disappointment to your boss.  Even if he is deliberately doing it, an honest confrontation could better the chances of him making amends to his wrong doings.

Raise voice: If interaction has not worked for you, and you know you are right, it is certainly about time you raised your voice openly rather than suffering alone in a job or leaving it as a loser. Remember - "Never start a fight but if a fight has been initiated from the other side, do finish it".

Have a sense of equity: What is right is right for you as is for any other person. If you know this time you are on the wrong side, have the courage to come forward and accept it, and take the responsibility for your wrongdoings just as you expect from others.

Take things lightheartedly: At times you take things spoken in jest seriously. Take a joke as a joke. This will help maintain the good vibes you share with your colleagues. Try your level best to sort out things. It is advisable to sort out problems rather than running away from them.