Module:                     SPT103 Political Theory and Ideology

Programme:              B.A Political Science and Sociology

Credit value:             12

Module tutor:            

1. General objective

This is the second part of the foundation module that introduces students to the basic concepts of political science, prior to future specialization. The module introduces the various methods and approaches to study the discipline of political science. It also explains the nature of various political regimes and their ideologies.

2. Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, learners 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 in different contexts

• Identify the location of power in the political system

• Define the  various  political  ideologies  and  link  them  to  present  political systems.

• Argue on both sides of the major debates like secularism and social justice.

• Recognize  the   theories   and   process   of   political   development   and modernization and apply it to given case studies.

• Examine and analyze the process of development and underdevelopment in the light of given case studies and theories.

• Critique the present state of north and south gap

3. Learning and teaching approach

This module counts for 12 credits and is divided over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8 hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week.

4. Assessment

Assessment will be carried out both on continuous bases as well as theoretical examination (mid-semester and end semester):

For continuous assessment learner will have to submit:

A. Written assignments: portion of the final mark: 20

Students are required to submit one research essay for the module and draft submission is compulsory, which will account for 5% of the essay. Draft essays will be marked on:

2.5% Choice and Organization of your idea and topic

2.5% background research on the topic

Final essay will account for 15% and will be assessed on the following criteria: 50 marks total

5% Content

2.5% Organization

5% Referencing and Language

B. Oral presentation: portion of final mark – 10%

Students will choose a topic for class presentation related to the module, the presentation will be 10% of the assessment. Presentation should not be more than

10 minutes.

C. Pop Quiz: portion of final mark – 05%

A total of five pop quizzes will be conducted throughout the semester and out of which best of four will be considered. Each quiz will be worth 10 marks and should

not take more than 10 minutes to complete. Quiz will be conducted during the regular class hours.

Theoretical assessment will be done twice in a semester in the form of examination:

D. Group Discussion: portion of final mark -05%

Students will be divided into small groups and there will be at least five-group discussion in a semester. A student has to lead at least one group discussion.

E. Mid Semester Examination: portion of final mark – 20%

Midterm will be conducted when 70% of the module is completed. It will be conducted for 30 minutes and the question sample will be similar to the end semester examination.

F. End Semester Examination: portion of final marks – 40%

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

5. Subject matter

5.1.           Unit I: Approaches and Methods to study Political Science:

5.1.1.       Traditional and Modern – origins and the difference

5.1.2.       Behaviouralism- origin and drawbacks

5.1.3.       Post- Behaviouralism – features and limitations

5.1.4.       Alternative  Approaches:  Postmodernism,  feminism,  Critical theory, Environmentalism.

5.2.           Unit II: Power, Authority, Legitimacy and Hegemony:

5.2.1.       Theories of Power: Pareto, Mosca, Michelles, C. Mills,

5.2.2.       Elite view of power- Michel's iron law of oligarchy

5.2.3.       Feminist  theory  of  Power-  Patriarchal,  social,  liberal  and radical theory

5.2.4.       Foucault on Power – knowledge and power relation

5.2.5.       Gramsci's theory of Hegemony and new developments

5.3.           Unit III: Political development and modernization:

5.3.1.       Liberal school of modernization – origins and key features

5.3.2.       Institution Building school- origins and key features

5.3.3.       Corporatism and patron client relationship,

5.3.4.       Modernization and Bureaucracy- defining and Webbers theory of bureaucracy

5.3.5.       Democratic transition – waves of democratic transition

5.4.           Unit IV: Dependency:

5.4.1.       Development  and  Underdevelopment:  Andre  Gunder  Frank and Samir Amin.   - Core feature of dependency and limitation of dependency theory.

5.5.           Unit V: Political Ideologies:

5.5.1.       Liberalism- Origins, core themes, types and challenges

5.5.2.       Conservatism- Origins, core themes, types and challenges

5.5.3.       Socialism – Origins, core themes, types and present state of socialism

5.5.4.       Other ideological traditions (Fascism, Anarchy, Three waves of Feminism, Religious fundamentalism, Environmentalism)- origins and defining.

5.6.           Unit VI:  Political Arguments:

5.6.1.       Secularism- defining and present arguments for and against

5.6.2.       Social Justice- defining and Rawls vs. Nozick's arguments

5.6.3.       Affirmative  action-  defining  and  present  arguments  for  and against

5.6.4.       Freedom of Speech and the question of censorship – defining, usage and challenges

6. Reading List

6.1.           Essential Reading

Gauba, O. P (2008) An Introduction to Political Theory (fourth Edi…), Macmillan India Press, Chennai.

Heywood, A. (ed.). (2007). Politics, 3rd Edition, Palgrave Foundations Series, London.

Haywood, A. (2005), Political Ideologies: An Introduction, Palgrave Foundation Series, London.

6.2.           Additional Reading

Gaus,  G.F.,  Kukathas,  C.  (eds.),  (2004),  Handbook  of  political  theory,  Sage Publications Ltd, London.

Kapur, A. C (2007) Principles of political science, OUP, Delhi.

Date: August 2015.