Representative Political Thinkers

Paper Code: 
POL 611
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This paper studies the Political Thought from Bentham to Marx as well as Lenin and Mao. The course intends to generate a critical awareness about the traditions of political thought in the West as well as the East.

9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Jeremy Bentham (Utilitarianism; Theory of Punishment ,  Laws and Rights, Prison reforms)

J.S. Mill (Revision of Benthamite Utilitarianism, Concept of Liberty, Representative Democracy)

9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Karl Marx (Concept of Dilectics, Historical Materialism, Economic interpretation of society and State, Revolution)

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

V.I. Lenin (with reference to changes introduced into Marxism, theory of party organization and Theory of Imperialism)

Mao Zedong (Theory of communism & Cultural Revolution, )        

9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

John Rawls (Theory of Justice)      

9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

Harold Laski (On state & sovereignty, Federalism, concept of rights, liberty & property)

 

Essential Readings: 
  • CL Wayper, Political Thought, Hutchinson, London 1965
  •  GH Sabine, History of Political Theory, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.,New Delhi, 1997
  • Subrata Mukherjee, History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx, Delhi, Prentice Hall of India, 2003
  • Leo  Strauss,  and Joseph Cropsey, History of Political Philosophy, Rand McNally, 1968
References: 
  • Brian Nelson , Western Political Thought, Pearson Education, New Delhi,2004
  • W.T.Jones  (series editor), 1959, Masters of Political Thought, (Vols.2 & 3), George Harrap & Co,London,1959
  • Bhikhu Parekh and Thomas Pantham, Political Discourse: Explorations in Indian and Western Political Thought, Sage, New Delhi, 1987
  • Brian R Nelson, , Western Political Thought, Second Edition, Pearson Education, New Delhi,2006
  • Percy B. Lehning, John Rawls: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, 2009
Academic Year: 
2016-17
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