Fundamentals of Political Science-I

Paper Code: 
POL 101
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course is meant to provide an introduction of Political Science to the students who have not had any exposure to the discipline. This is an introductory paper to the concepts, ideas, forms of Government and Political Theories. It seeks to explain the evolution and usage of these concepts and theories, both historically and analytically.

The objectives of this course are to:

1.  Understand about the fundamental concepts of Political Science

2. Identify the different forms of government and organs of government

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

POL 101

Fundamentals of Political Science – I

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO1: Define the basic concepts of Political theory like Liberty, Equality, and Sovereignty etc. and analyse the changes in the concepts in the context of Globalizations.

CO2: Understand what is politics and able to identify the nature and significance of Political Science.

CO3: Learn about different forms of government and their merits and demerits and able to understand their working in contemporary times

CO4: Identify  the organs of government and the relevance of theory of separation of power

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Meaning, Nature and Significance of Political Science with special emphasis on traditional Political Science

9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Concepts-Liberty (Classification, views of Mill, Laski and Marx), Equality, Justice (with reference to the views of John Rawls and Robert Nozic)

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

Sovereignty with special reference to Monistic and Pluralistic concepts;

Organs of the Government - their functions with recent trends.

9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

Forms of Government- Democracy and Dictatorship;

Theories of Democracy-Classical (Liberal and Marxist) and Contemporary (Elitist with reference to Pareto, Mosca, Mitchells, C.W Mills)

9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

Concepts of Rule of Law and Constitutionalism (with reference to A.V Dicey);

Political Parties and Pressure Groups

Essential Readings: 
  • MP Jain, Political Theory, New Delhi, Authors Guild Publications, 1993
  • RC Vermani, Political Theory, Geetanjali Publications, New Delhi, 1996
  • Eddy Asirvatham, Political Theory New Delhi, S. Chand & Co. Pvt. Ltd, 1997
  • RL Gupta, Political Theory, New Concepts: New Perspectives, New Delhi, Sultan Chand and Sons, 2004
  • RC Agarwal, Political Theory, New Delhi, S. Chand & Co., 2006
  • Hari Hara Das & BC Choudhary, Political Theory, Jaipur, National Publishing House, 2005
  • O.P.Gauba, An Introduction to Political Theory, Macmillan Publications, 2011
References: 
  • JC Johri, Principles of Modern Political Science, Sterling Publishers New Delhi, 1995 
  • AC Kapur, Principles of Political Science, Sultan Chand and Sons,New Delhi, 2004
  • A Appadorai, Substance of Politics, Oxford University Press, Madrass,1968
  • SN Ray, Modern Comparative Politics, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi, 2004
  • Barrie Axford, Gary Browning, Richard Muggins &Ben Rosamond, Politics: An Introduction,Routledge, New York , 2002
  • John Hoffman, Paul Graham, Introduction to Political Theory, Dorling Kindersely Publishers, London,2007  
  • Will Kymlicka, Contemporary Political Philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002
  • Dudely Knowles , Political Philosophy,, Routledge ,London, 2001
Academic Year: 
2018-19
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version