Paper – I: Political Theory

Module 1:
Meaning, Nature, Scope. Approaches and Methods

1. Political Science: Meaning, Nature, Scope and Significance

2. Political Science and other Social Sciences

3. Approaches to the study of Political Science

3.1 Traditional Approaches
3.2 Modern Approaches: Behavioralism, Post-Behavioralism, Systems Approach, Structural-
Functional Approach
3.3 Marxist Approach

4. Methods of Studying Political Science

4.1 Deductive Method
4.2 Inductive Method
4.3 Experimental Method
4.4 Historical Method
4.5 Comparative Method
4.6 Philosophical Method
4.7 Statistical Method

Module 2:
Theories on State and Sovereignty

5. State – Meaning, Evolution, and Nature of State

5.1 Changing Notions of the State
6. Theories regarding origin of the state
6.1 Liberal Theories
6.1.1.Theory of Divine Origin
6.1.2.Theory of Force
6.1.3.Social Contract theory
6.2 Marxist Theory of State

7. Functions of the State: Liberal and Marxist Theories

7.1 Liberal Theories:
7.1.1 Classical Liberalism (Laissez faire or Negative Individualism): Views of Adam
Smith, Bentham and Milton Friedman
7.1.2 Positive Liberalism or Positive Individualism: Views of J S Mill, T H Green,
Laski, MacIver
7.1.3 Post 1930 Thinkers like Keynes, Roosevelt, J K Galbraith
7.2 Marxian Theory of the Functions of the State
7.3 The Concept of Welfare State
7.3.1 Origin and Development of the Concept
7.3.2 Meaning and Nature of Welfare State
7.3.3 India as a Welfare State

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8. Concept of Sovereignty
8.1 Meaning, Evolution and Characteristics of Sovereignty
8.2 Types/Aspects of Sovereignty – Legal, Political; Popular; National; Titular;
8.3 De jure and De facto Sovereignty
8.4 Theories of Sovereignty
8.5 Monistic theory of sovereignty (John Austin’s Views)
8.6 Pluralistic Theory (John Austin’s Views)

Module 3:
Concepts in Political Science

9. Concept of Democracy
9.1. Meaning, Definition, Evolution and Its Characteristics
9.2. Models of Democracy: Direct, Representative, Participatory and Deliberative
9.3. Theories of Democracy: Classical Liberal and Elite Theory of Democracy

10. Liberty
10.1 Meaning and Definition
10.2 Evolution of the Concept
10.3 Theories of Liberty: J.S. Mill and Isaiah Berlin

11. Equality
11.1 Meaning and Definition
11.2 Evolution of the Concept
11.3 Types of Equality
11.4 Theories of Equality: Ronald Dworkwin

12. Justice
12.1 Meaning and Definition
12.2 Various Dimensions of Justice
12.3 Theories of Justice: John Rawls and Amartya Sen

Suggested Readings

Bhargava, Rajeev and Ashok Acharya: Political Theory, An Introduction, Pearsons

Education, 2008.
Heywood, Andrew, Political Theory, (3rd Ed.), Palgrave Macmillan, 2005
Held David, Models of Democracy, Stanford University Press, 2006.
O P Gauba, An Introduction to Political Theory, Macmillan, 1981.
M P Jain, Political Theory: Liberal and Marxian, Authors Guild, 1985
Amal Ray and Mohit Bhattacharya, Political Theory: Ideas and Institutions, The World
Press, 1983.