Module: PS103
- Introduction to Political science II
Credit
value: 12
Programme:
B.A.
PS General Objective:
This is the second part of the foundation course that introduces students
to the basic concepts of political
science, prior to future specialisation. The course introduces the various methods
and approaches to study the discipline of political science. It also explains the nature of
various political regimes.
Learning
outcomes:
On
the successful completion of the module the students
will be able to:
• Identify the approaches and methods during the course of
the study of political science.
• Explain the methods
of use of power and try to identify
the location of power in the
political system
• Differentiate
between the power, violence and authority.
• Clearly identify the various political ideologies
and
link them to present
political systems.
• Argue
on both sides of the major debates like secularism and social justice.
• Understand the theories and process
of political development and modernization and apply it to given case studies.
• Examine the process of development and underdevelopment in the light of given case studies and theories.
• Develop
a consciousness about the use of political power for social good.
• Realise the dangers of extremist and secessionist ideas.
Learning
and teaching approach:
Lectures
(60 hours) Tutorials (20 hours)
Assignments and self-study (40 hours)
This module counts for 12 credits, divided over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8
hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week. There will be a one-hour tutorial, once per week, and three hours are being reserved
for self-study and research.
Assessment:
End
Semester Examination (40%)
Mid
Semester Examination (15%) Written
assignments (2×15%=30%) Assignment presentation (10%) Class
participation (05%)
Subject
matter:
Part 1: Approaches and Methods to study Political
Science
1. Traditional and Modern
2. Behaviouralism
3. Post-
Behaviouralism
4. Alternative Approaches: Post modernism,
feminism, Critical
theory, Environmentalism.
Part
2: Power, Authority, Legitimacy
and Hegemony
1. Theories of Power: Pareto,
Mosca, Michelles, C.Mills
2. Elite
view of power
3. Feminist theory of Power
4. Foucault on Power
5. Gramsci’s theory of Hegemony and new developments
Part
4: Political development and modernization
1. Liberal
school of modernization
2. Institution
Building School
3. Corporatism
and patron client relationship
4. Modernization
and Bureaucracy
5. Democratic
transition
Part 5: Dependency: Development and Underdevelopment: Raul
Presbich, Andre Gunder
Frank, Samir Amin and other thinkers.
Part
6: Political Ideologies
1.
Liberalism
2.
Conservatism
3.
Socialism
4.
Other ideological traditions
4.1.
Fascism
4.2.
Anarchy
4.3.
Feminism
4.4.
Religious fundamentalism
4.5.
Environmentalism
Part
7: Political Arguments:
1. Secularism
2. Social
Justice
3. Affirmative action
4. Freedom of Speech and the question of censorship
Reading
list:
Text
Books
J.
Blondel, (1969) An Introduction to Comparative Government, London.
Baradat,
L.P.(2005) Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact,
Prentice Hall, London.
Ball, T., Dagger,
R.(2003) Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader, Longman, London.
Heywood, A. (ed.). (2007).
Politics, 3rd Edition,
Palgrave Foundations Series, London. Haywood,A (2006), Political Theory
: an introduction, Palgrave Foundations Series, London. Kapur, A.C(2007) Principles
of political science,OUP,Delhi.,
Reference
Books and Articles
Budge,
I., Keman, H.(1993) Parties and Democracy Coalition
Formation and Government
Functioning in
Twenty States. (Comparative European Politics) Oxford University Press .
Dahl,
Robert,(1984) Modern political analysis, OUP, Oxford.
Gaus, G.F., Kukathas, C. (eds.), (2004), Handbook of political
theory, Sage Publications Ltd, London.
Mclean, I., Mcmillan,
A.(2003) The Oxford Concise
Dictionary of Politics, Oxford
University
Press, London.
Siaroff, A., (2005), Comparing
Political Regimes: A Thematic Introduction to Comparative
Politics,
Broadview Press, New York.
Stiglitz, A (1998) Towards
a new paradigm for development : strategies policies
and processes; the Presbich Lecture,
UNCTAD,Geneva.