Representative Political Thinkers

Paper Code: 
Pol 601
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.

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Make the students understand about the major development and the key debates in  the western philosophy

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

POL 601

Representative Political Thinkers

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

CO61: Understand the major developments and key debates in the contemporary society and polity

CO62: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various philosophical approaches.

CO63: Explain how political philosophies have shaped various forms of government, from tyranny to republican democracy and welfare states.

CO64:   Critically evaluate the relevance of the various concepts given by the thinkers in contemporary politics.

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

T.H. Green (Theory of State, Resistance to state, War,)

 

9.00
Unit II: 
Unit 2

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

John Stuart Mill (Revision of Utilitarianism, Liberty, Representative democracy)

 

9.00
Unit III: 
Unit 3

Karl Heinrich Marx (Dialectical Materialism, Materialistic conception of history, Theory of class-struggle, Communism and Revolution) 

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
Unit 4

Vladimir I. Lenin (Changes introduced into Marxism, Theory of party organization and Theory of Imperialism);

Mao Zedong (On Communism & Cultural revolution)

 

9.00
Unit V: 
Unit 5

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

John Rawls (Theory of Justice)

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Sharma, U., & Sharma, S.K.,(2020), Western Political Thought: From Plato to Burke, New Delhi , Atlantic Publishers
  • Gauba, O.P., (2017), Western Political Thought, New Delhi, Mayur Paperbacks
  • Mukherjee S. (2015), History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx, New Delhi,Prentice Hall of India
  • Suda, J.P., ( 2016), History of Political Thought: (Vol. I&II), Merrut, K. Nath & Co
  • Wayper, C.L.,(2018), Political Thought, India, Aitbs Publishers
  • Boucher, D.,&  Kelly, P., (2017) Political Thinkers, London,Oxford University Press

 

References: 

Ø  Sabine,G.H.,(2019), History of Political Theory,New Delhi, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.

Ø  Skoble,A. & Machan,T., (2007), Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, New Delhi, Pearson Education

Ø  Adam, I., & Dyson, R.W.,(2004),Fifty Great Political Thinkers, London, Routledge

Nelson B.R.,(2006),Western Political Thought, Second Edition, New Delhi, Pearson Education

Academic Year: 
2020-21
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