Fundamentals of Political Science-I

Paper Code: 
Pol 111
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course is meant to provide an introduction to Political Science to 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. Introduce the student genre to the concepts, principles and basic fundamentals of Political Science.
  2. Acquaint the students with a holistic overview of the organs of the government and their functioning in Polity.

 

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

POL 111

Fundamentals of Political Science-I

CO1: Define the basic concepts of Political theory like Liberty, Equality, and Justice etc. and analyze the different schools of thought in Political Science.

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

CO3: Learn about different organs of government and their functions.

CO4:Identify the different forms of government and other bodies like pressure groups etc which influence the government.  

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

Course Objectives (CO)

 

 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Unit 1

Meaning ,Nature and significance of Political Science;

Meaning of Politics- Liberal and MarxianSchools

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Unit 2

Concepts-Liberty (Negative and Positive, views of Mill, Laski & Marx)

Equality (Definition, Meaning , Nature, Types of equality, Relation between Liberty and Equality)

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit 3

Theories of Justice; Subaltern and Feminist perspectives

Notion of Common Good (Gandhian perspective of Sarvodaya)

Elite Theory (Views of Pareto, Mosca, Mitchell, C. Wright Mills)

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit 4

Organs of the Government- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary;

Their functions with recent trends

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Unit 5

Forms of Government- Democracy and Dictatorship;

Political Parties and Pressure Groups

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Heywood, A.,( 2019), Politics, United Kingdom :Macmillan Publications
  • Gauba, O.P.,( 2019), An Introduction to Political Theory, New Delhi: Macmillan Publications
  • Agarwal, R.C.,(2018). Political Theory:Principles of Political Science, New Delhi: S. Chand & Co
  • Bhargava, R., Ashok, A., (2016) , Political Theory:An Introduction, New Delhi: Pearson Education
  • Asirvatham, E., (2015) Political Theory, New Delhi : S. Chand & Co. Pvt. Ltd
  • Gupta, R.L.,( 2014), Political Theory, New Concepts: New Perspectives, New Delhi: Sultan Chand and Sons
  • Vermani, R.C., (2014), Political Theory:Concepts and Debates, New Delhi: Geetanjali Publications

 

References: 
  • Johri, J.C., (2019), Principles of Modern Political Science, New Delhi : Sterling Publishers
  • Sabine, G.H., & Thorson, L.T., (2019), A History of Political Theory, New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishing
  • Kapur, A.C.,( 2016), Principles of Political Science, New Delhi : Sultan Chand and Sons
  • Appadorai,  A., (2015) , Substance of Politics, Chennai : Oxford University Press
  • Axford, B.,Browning,G., Muggins, R.,  &Ben Rosamond, (2002,)Politics: An Introduction, New York,  Routledge
  • Jonathan,R., (2008), Issues in Political Theory, New York, Oxford University Press
  •  Hoffman, J., Graham, P.,(2007), Introduction to Political Theory,London,Dorling Kindersely Publishers
  • Das, H. H., & Choudhary, B.C., (2007), Political Theory, Jaipur: National Publishing House
  • Vincet, A., (2007) , The Nature of Political Theory, New York : Oxford University Press
  • Kymlicka, W., (2002), Contemporary Political Philosophy, New York : Oxford University Press

 

Academic Year: 
2020-21
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