Course Teachers: Dr. Avinash Samal/Dr.

Anita Samal
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
Deductive Method, Inductive Method, Experimental Method, Methods of Observation
Historical Method, Comparative Method, Philosophical Method, Sociological Method
Juridical Method, 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
Post 1929 Thinkers like Keynes, Roosevelt, J K Galbraith
7.2 Marxian Theory of the Functions of the State
7.3The 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
7.4 Contemporary Issues and Debates

8. Concept of Sovereignty
8.1 Meaning, Evolution and Characteristics of Sovereignty
8.2 Types/Aspects of Sovereignty – Legal, Political; Popular; National; Titular;
De jure and De facto Sovereignty
8.3 Theories of Sovereignty
8.3.1 Monistic theory of sovereignty (John Austin’s Views)
8.3.2 Pluralistic Theory
8.3.2.1 Factors responsible for the Rise of Pluralism
8.3.2.2 Pluralistic Thinkers and their Ideas
8.3.3.3 Criticisms
8.4 Contemporary Issues and Debates

1
 Course Teachers: Dr. Avinash Samal/Dr. Anita Samal
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: Liberal and Marxist Theories
9.4 Contemporary Issues and Debates

10. Liberty, Equality and Justice

10.1 Meaning, Definition and Characteristics
10.2 Theories of Liberty: Isaiah Berlin and T H Green
10.3 Theories of Equality: Ronald Dworkwin
10.4 Theories of Justice: John Rawls and Amartya Sen
10.5 Contemporary Issues and Debates

11. Rights: Meaning, Evolution, and Nature of Rights

11.1 Theories of Rights: Liberal Tradition and Natural Tradition
11.2 Human Rights and Law
11.3 Contemporary Issues and Debates

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.