Programme Strcture of B.A.

Political Science

SL Course Title of the Course Category Teaching Sem. IA Total Cre

NO Code of the Hours / Exa Marks dits
Course Week m
Semester I
1 Key concepts in Political Theory 6 80 20 100 5
Science
Semester II
3 Western Political Theory 6 80 20 100 5
Thought
 Course Title – Key concepts in Political Science
Semester – I
Course credits – 5
Number of teaching Hours per week – 6
Total Contact Hours – 72
Summative Assessment Marks- 80 + 20 (IA) = 100

Course Objectives:
1. To introduce students to the basic principles and concepts of Political Science.
2. To enable students to develop a sensitive and broader vision of politics.
3. To cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills among students while evaluating political issues.
4. To empower students to become informed and responsible citizens.
5. To apply political science concepts to contemporary issues and events.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the student will,
1. Understand the basic principles and concepts of Political science.
2. Develop a sensitive and broader vision of politics based on the nuanced understanding of political
principles and concepts.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills in comprehension and evaluation of political
issues.
4. Be able to become informed and responsible citizens.
5. Be able to apply political science concepts to contemporary issues and events.

Pedagogy: Lectures, interactive sessions, practical exercises, assignments, seminars and group
discussions.
 Key concepts in Political Science

Unit 1: Introduction (16 hrs.)

1.1 Political Science: Meaning, nature and the importance of the study
1.2 Approaches: Traditional and Modern (Behavioural and Systems)
1.3 Constructivism and Post colonialism
1.4 Political Science in India

Unit 2: State and Society (18 hrs.)

2.1 Power and Authority – Meaning and kinds; Law – Meaning and importance
2.2 State: Meaning,elements and Evolution; State and globalisation
2.3 Perspectives on State – Liberal and Marxist; Concept of welfare state
2.4 Civil Society- Meaning and importance; State and civil society

Unit 3: State and Constitutional values (18 hrs.)

3.1 Sovereignty- Meaning and importance; Monistic and pluralist theory
3.2 Rights – Meaning, nature and importance; Rights and duties
3.3 Liberty and Equality – Meaning and kinds
3.4 Justice – Meaning and dimensions; Concept of Social Justice

Unit 4: State and Politics (20 hrs.)

4.1 Citizenship – Meaning; Political obligation – Meaning and significance
4.2 Democracy- Meaning and importance, Participatory democracy
4.3 State and government; Forms of government – Democracy and authoritarian,
Parliamentary and Presidential, Unitary and federal
4.4 Political culture and socialisation; Political participation- Meaning and kinds; Political
parties – Meaning, functions and kinds.
Suggested Readings:
1. Amal Ray and MohitBattacharya, PoliticalTheory ideas and Institutions, Kolkata, The World
Press Pvt. Limited, 2013.
2. M. J. Vinod and Meena Deshpande, Contemporary Political Theory, Delhi, PHI Learning, 2013.
3. S. Ramaswamy, Political Theory Ideas and Concepts, Delhi, Macmillan, 2002.
4. VidyaBhushan, Vishnu Bhagvan, Principle of Political Science, New Delhi, S. Chand and Co,
1998.
5. A. C. Kapur, Principles of Political Science, Delhi, S. Chand and Co, 2010.
6. Anup Chand Kapur, Principles of Political Science, Delhi; S Chand & Co,2010
7. N.N. Agarwal, VidyaBhushan and VishnooBhawan, R., Principles of Political Science, New
Delhi; S. Chand & Co.,1998.
8. Atlantic Research Division, Political Theory Concepts and Debates, New Delhi; Atlantic Pub.,
2021
9. S. N Dubey, Political Science Theory, Agra, Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, 2002.
10. O.P. Gauba, An Introduction to Political Theory, Delhi; National Publishing House, 2019
11. Eddy Asirvatham and K KMisra, Political Theory, Delhi; S. Chand& Co., 2010
 Course Title – Western Political Thought
Semester – II
Course credits – 5
Number of teaching Hours per week – 6
Total Contact Hours – 72
Summative Assessment Marks- 80 + 20 (IA) = 100

Course Objectives:
1. To familiarize students with western foundations of Political Thought and to critically engage with
the rational/material universe of the west.
2. To identify and analyse key political ideas and evaluate the continuity and changes in Western
Political Thought.
3. To evaluate the role of Western Political Thought in shaping modern political systems, institutions
and policies.
4. To cultivate among students an appreciation for the diversity and value of political perspectives
and traditions.
5. To explore the impact of historical events and cultural context on political ideas and the relevance
of western political thinking to evaluate contemporary issues.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the students will,
1. Have an understanding of the distinct features and diverse intellectual traditions of the west.
2. Be able to identify the main currents in Western Political Thought and their impact on the shaping
of western political values and institutions.
3. Develop a critical perspective on the impact of Western Political Thought on the political system,
governance and political order.
4. Be able to appreciate the diversity and value of divergent political perspectives and traditions.
5. Be able to identify the background of political ideas and relevance of Western Political Thought to
evaluate the contemporary political issues.

Pedagogy: Lectures, Interactive Sessions, Practical exercise, Assignments, Seminars and Group
discussion.
 Western Political Thought

Unit1: Introduction and Greek political thought (18 hrs.)

1.1 Political thought – Meaning and significance
1.2 Greek political thought - Features; Socrates on Law and state
1.3 Plato on Ideal state and Justice
1.4 Aristotle on classification of governments, citizenship and revolution

Unit 2: Medieval and early modern political thought (18 hrs.)

2.1 Salient features of early modern political thought
2.2 Church-state controversy; St. Augustine – Theory of two swords
2.3 St. Thomas Aquinas- Natural law and theory of government
2.4 Niccolo Machiavelli – Political realism

Unit 3: Contractualists, Liberals and Utilitarians (18 hrs.)

3.1 Thomas Hobbes – Absolute sovereignty, state and society
3.2 John Locke – Theory of natural rights and limited government
3.3 Jean Jacques Rousseau – Social contract, General will and popular sovereignty
3.4 Jeremy Bentham – Utilitarianism; J.S. Mill – Utilitarianism, Liberty and Representative
Government

Unit 4: Nature of state: Idealism and Marxism (18 hrs.)

4.1 T.H. Green – State and freedom; Immanuel Kant – Moral philosophy
4.2 G.W.F. Hegel - Dialectics
4.3 Karl Marx- Historical materialism and communism
4.4 Antonio Gramsci – Hegemony; John Rawls – Theory of Justice
Suggested Reading:
1. G. H. Sabine, A History of Political Theory 4thed, New Delhi, Oxford and IBH, 2019.
2. William Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers Plato to the Present, Holt, Rinehart and company,
1963.
3. SubratoMukherji and SusheelaRamaswamy, History of Political Thought Plato to Marx, New
Delhi, PHI Publishers, 2014.
4. Sukhbir Singh, History of Political Thought Vol 1 & Vol 2, Meerut, Rastogi Publishers, 2006.
5. Coleman. J A History of Political Thought, Oxford, Blackwell, 2000.
6. Boucher, D., and Kely, P., ed., Political Thinkers From Socrates to the Present, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2009
7. C.L. Wayper. Political Thought, Bombay: B.I. Publications,1977.
8. Quentin Skinner, The Foundations of Modern Political Thought, Cambridge: OUP,1978
9. Ernest Barker, Greek Political Theory: Plato and his Predecessors, London: Metheun& Co.,
1970.
10. M.J. Vinod and Meena Deshpande, Contemporary Political Theory, Delhi: PHI Learning,
2013
11. L. Colleti,From Rousseau to Lenin, New Delhi: Oxford University Press,1969.
12. Colin Farrelly, Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory, London, Sage, 2004
13. Robert E. Goodin, Philip Pettit and Thomas Pogge, eds., Companion to Contemporary
Political Philosophy, Oxford, Blackwell, 2007
 Question paper pattern
POLITICAL SCIENCE
B.A. ---- Semester Examination, 20--
Course Code and Title

Section – A (4 x5= 20)

Instructions:
 Write short notes on any four of the following, each not exceeding 200
words.
 All questions carry equal marks

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Section – B (4 x15= 60)

Instructions:
 Answer any four of the following, each not exceeding 600 words.
 All questions carry equal marks

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.