Understanding Political Theory

Paper Code: 
CPOL 111
Credits: 
06
Contact Hours: 
90.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Rationale: 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 Outcomes (CO)

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

CPOL 111

Understanding Political Theory

CO1: Demonstrating ability to understand the basic concepts and theories pertaining to political science development.

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

CO3: Learn about meaning and nature of state and society, sovereignty

CO4: Identify the different forms of democracy and other concept like representation, participation etc which influence the government.  

CO5: Create new ideas or perspectives by integrating elements of feminist and postmodern theories into

political analysis

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
 
18.00
Unit I: 
Introducing Political Theory:

 Politics: Meaning, Nature and Scope; Traditions of Political Theory: Liberal, Marxist, Anarchist and Conservative  

18.00
Unit II: 
Approaches to Political Theory

 Normative and Empirical; Behaviouralism and Post-Behaviouralism; Critical and Contemporary Perspective in Political Theory: Feminist and Postmodern 

18.00
Unit III: 
State and Sovereignty

 Meaning and Elements of State; Difference between State and Society; Theories of Origin of State: Divine, Historical, Evolutionary and Social Contract; Sovereignty: Meaning; Theories: Monistic and Pluralistic

18.00
Unit IV: 
Idea of Democracy

 Meaning, Types: Procedural and Deliberative; Theories of Democracy: Liberal, Marxist and Elitist; Political Leadership: definition, elements and problems of women Leadership

18.00
Unit V: 
Political Participation

Problems of Participation; Representation: Meaning, Types, Theories

 

Essential Readings: 

Ø  Mahajan, V.D .,(2022), Political Theory:Principles of Political Science, New Delhi, Sultan Chand and Sons

Ø  Gauba O.P., (2021), An Introduction to Political Theory, New Delhi, Macmillan Publications

Ø  Heywood A.,(2019), Politics, United Kingdom , Red Globe Press

Ø  Agarwal, R.C.,(2018), Political Theory, New Delhi, S. Chand & Co

Ø  Bhargava, R., and Ashok,A.,(2016),Political Theory:An Introduction, New Delhi, Pearson Education

Ø  Asirvatham,E.,(2015), Political Theory, New Delhi, S. Chand & Co. Pvt. Ltd

Ø  Vermani, R.C.,( 2014). Political Theory:Concepts and Debates, Geetanjali Publications, New Delhi,

Ø  Gupta R.L.,( 2014), Political Theory, New Concepts: New Perspectives, New Delhi, Sultan Chand and Sons

Ø  Jain, M.P.,(2013), Political Theory, New Delhi, Atlantic Publications

References: 

Ø  Appadorai, A., (2015), Substance of Politics,Madrass, Oxford University Press

Ø  Hoffman, J. & Graham, P.,(2015),Introduction to Political Theory,London, Dorling Kindersely Publishers

Ø  Johri, J.C.,(2010), Principles of Political Science, New Delhi,  Sterling Publishers

Ø  Christiano,Th.,(2008), Issues in Political Theory,New York, Oxford University Press

Ø  Vincet, A.,(2007), The Nature of Political Theory,New York, Oxford University Press

Ø  Das, H. H. & Choudhary, B.C.,(2005), Political Theory, Jaipur, National Publishing House

Ø  Ray, S.N.,(2004), Modern Comparative Politics, New Delhi, Prentice Hall of India

Ø  Kymlicka, W.,(2002), Contemporary Political Philosophy, New York,Oxford University Press

Ø  Knowles, D.,(2001),Political Philosophy,London, Routledge

Ø  Dahl R.,( 1989),  Democracy and Its Critics,New Heaven ,Yale University Press

 

E- Ressources:

Ø  Hunt, E.M. The Past, Present, and Future States of Political Theory. Soc 59, 119–128 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-022-00703-1

Ø  Sabine, G. H. (1939). What is a Political Theory? The Journal of Politics, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2307/2125628

Ø  Sovereignty. (n.d.). Sovereignty (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sovereignty/

Ø  Heywood, A. (2005). Political Theory: An Introduction. United Kingdom: Macmillan. https://www.pdfdrive.com/political-theory-e33414173.html

Ø  Heywood, A. (2019). Politics. United Kingdom: Macmillan Education UK. Can be Retrieved from http://library.lol/main/035D25FFC07CB12DC9EB9CF4B1E71CB8

Ø  Gauba O.P., (2019), An Introduction to Political Theory, New Delhi, Macmillan Publications. Can be retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bt2z4kiuHvLfsdOY-pPg9NqQ_tVxWlMR/view

Ø  Political Theory: An Introduction. (n.d.). India: Pearson Education India. Can be Retrieved from http://library.lol/main/AD2E57AB14566920C9BC86528AF45966

Ø  Barnes, H. E. (1924). THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF THE STATE IN CLASSICAL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. The Monist, 34(1), 15–62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27900975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Year: 
2023-24
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