Module: PS104 – Western Political Thought

Credit value: 12

Programme: B.A. PS

General objective:

This module will explore in a broad sense the philosophical foundations of politics.  Its first part provides an overview of the history of political thought in antiquity, the middle ages and through to the modern era. The study of the ideas of major Political thinkers prepares the base to understand the evolution of political science as a separate discipline.

Learning outcomes:

On the successful completion of the module the students will be able to:

•           Critically link the ideas and concepts developed by major thinkers.

•           Understand the coherent development of political thought over many centuries based on some concepts.

•           Relate the thoughts of major thinkers with their context.

•           Understand the origin and evolution of state according to major thinkers.

•           Know the conceptual basis of modern communist states.

•           Compare the concept of human nature developed by major political thinkers.

•           Differentiate between the concept of social contract developed by Hobbes, Locke and

Rousseau.

•           Understand the new developments in Marxist theory in reference to Marx’s original theories.

•           Compare and contrast the theories of justice developed from Plato to Rawls.

•           Orient themselves towards the development of their own ideas related to major issues of political thinking.

Learning and teaching approach:

Lectures (60 hours) Tutorials (15 hours)

Group Discussion (15 hours) Assignments (30 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 two hours are being reserved for self-study and research. Once every week, there will be a one-hour group discussion.

Assessment:

Examination (45%)

Mid term Examination (20%)

Written assignment (20%) Assignment presentation

 (10%)

Class participation (05%)

Subject matter:

1. Nature of Political Thought; utility and value, the problem related to fact and value

2. Plato; influence of Socrates, theory of Justice, Theory of Education, Communism of wives and property, Philosopher king, Plato and fascism.

3. Aristotle; Criticism of Plato, State and classification of states, Theory of constitution, Citizenship, Revolution, Distributive justice, Slavery.

4. Machiavelli; Human nature, theory of government and revolution, theory of ethics and politics

5. Hobbes; Human nature, state of nature, laws of nature, social contract, sovereignty.

6. Locke; Human nature, state of nature and laws of nature, concept of social contract and theory of private property, Individualism.

7. Rousseau; Social contract, General will, Freedom.

8. Bentham; Utilitarianism

9. J.S.Mill; Utilitarianism, democracy, liberty, individualism and socialism.

10. Hegel; Dialectics, theory of state.

12. Green; Theory of state, functions of state, Green as a liberal, revision of liberalism.

13.  Marx;  Communist  manifesto,  class  struggle,  surplus  value,  dialectic  materialism, historical materialism, criticism of capitalism, economic determinism.

14. Lenin; Party and state, revolution

15. Gramsci; state and civil society, theory of hegemony.

Reading List

Text Books

Hampsher-Monk, I.,(1993) A History of Political Thought: Major Political Thinkers from

Hobbes to Marx. Blackwell Publishing Limited, London.

Mukherjee, S., Ramaswamy, S.,(2005) A History of Thought: Plato to Marx. Prentice Hall of

India, New delhi.

Sabine, G.H (1973) A History of Political Thought, Oxford University Press, Delhi.

Reference Books and Articles

A, Appadorai (1968) The substance of politics, OUP,Delhi,

Coleman, J., (2000) A History of Political Thought: From Ancient Greece to Early

Christianity. Blackwell Publishing Limited, Delhi.

Dunning, W.A.,(1970) A History of Political Theories, Ancient and Medieval. Central Book

Depot, Delhi.

Gide, C., Rist, C.(1983) A History of Economic Doctrines. From the Time of the Physiocrats to the Present Day. 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, London.

Ilaiah, K.,(1999) God as a Political Philosopher. Popular PrakashanDelhi

Mulgan, R.G.,(1977)  Aristotle’s Political Theory, An introduction for students of political theory. Oxford University Press,London.