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PoliticalTheory (Sem I) PDF
PoliticalTheory (Sem I) PDF
POLITICAL THEORY
Course Description
The basic objective of this course is to facilitate and develop critical engagement with
the fundamentals of political theory and International Relations. Concepts, debates
and analysis relevant for the study of international relations have been emphasised
upon. The course will underline an applied analytical approach and provide a
theoretical prism to address challenges posed by issues in contemporary international
relations. Case studies and concepts have been selected on the basis of their relevance
to the twenty-first century.
The course is divided into three units. The first unit serves as an introduction to
political theory. Its nature, scope, relevance and interaction with international
relations discipline will be emphasized upon. The second unit emphasises on some
fundamental concepts and theoretical terms associated with political theory. The third
unit on applied political theory employs an applied prism, whereby four cases are
selected--studied, explained and analysed on the basis of concepts elucidated through
concepts enunciated by a team of political theorists. The class will be divided into
four groups, who would work on their preferred case studies. This unit requires high
level of interaction, participation and action from the students. Some initial classes
will be devoted to the discussion on the recommended texts outlined in this syllabus.
METHOD OF EVALUATION
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First Mid-Semester: 20%
(Review essay will require reviewing 2 books in minimum. The books have to be
approved by the course instructor.)
COURSE STRUCTURE
Required Readings
Heywood, Andrew, Political Theory: An Introduction (IIIrd ed), New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2004 (Chapter 1: Introduction: Concepts and Theories in Politics)
Dryzek, John, Bonnie, Honig & Anne Phillips (eds), The Oxford Handbook of
Political Theory, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. (Chapter 1: Introduction)
David Held (ed), Political Theory Today, United Kingdom: Polity Press, 199.
(Chapter 1)
Isaiah Berlin, “Does Political Theory Still Exist,” in Laslett and Ruciman (eds),
Philosophy, Politics and Society, Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1962.
Steve Smith, “The Forty Years’ Detour: The Resurgence of Normative Theory in
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International Relations,” Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 21 (3) 1992.
Recommended Readings
White, K. Stephen & J. Donald Moon (eds) (2004) What is Political Theory, London:
Sage Publication. (Chapter 5: At The Edge)
Bhargava, Rajeev & Ashok Acharya (eds) (2009) Political Theory; An Introduction,
New Delhi: Pearsons (Chapter 1 & 2)
Gaus, Gerald S. & Chandran Kukathas (eds), (2004), Handbook of Political Theory,
London: Sage Publication. (Part- III).
James Der Derian, “Post Theory: The Eternal return of Ethics in International
Relations,” in Doyle and Ikenberry (eds) New Thinking in International Relations
Theory, United Kingdom: Westview Press, 1997.
II. In this unit different concept, theories and debate about the state will
be covered. There is a change in the concept of state from ancient to
modern times and these shifts will be underlined. Different
perspectives regarding the state particularly Marxist, Gandhian and
feminist will be studied.
In this unit, select readings should be read by the students before coming to the class. Class
participation and discussion on the readings is required. Readings are available in the
library. Alternatively, the course instructor can be contacted. While this is an indicative
bibliography, more readings will be added over time.
Required Readings
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Lenin, Valdimir, The State and Revolution, 1917 [Online: Web] URL:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/
Baidyanath Ghosh, “Gandhian Political Economy: State, Power and Policy,” Review
of Social, Economic and Business Studies, Vol. 2, 2007.
Kaultilya, “A welfare State and Defence and External Affairs”.(Copy can be accessed
from the course instructor)
J. P. Nettl , “The State as a conceptual variable” World Politics, 20 (4), July 1968.
Recommended Readings
Heywood, Andrew (2004), Political Theory: An Introduction (IIIrd ed), New York:
Palgrave Macmillan. (Chapter 3).
Timothy Mitchell, “The Limits of the State: Beyond Statist Approaches and their
Critics,” The American Political Science Review, 85 (1), 1991.
Bhikhu Parekh, Gandhi: A very short Introduction, New York: OUP, 2007.
Barry Buzan, People State and Fear: The National Security Problem in International
Relations, London: Wheat Sheaf books, 1983.
Sovereignty
Required Readings
Salmon, Trevor C. & Imber, Mark F, Issues in International Relations (II Edition),
Oxon: Routledge Publication, 2008. (Chapter 3).
Recommended Readings
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Pemberton, Jo-Anne , Sovereignty: Interpretations, New York, Palgrave Macmillan,
2009.
Richard Haas, “ The Primacy of State…or Revising the Revisionist,” Daedalus, 108
(4), Fall 1979.
Susan Strange, The Retreat of the State: Diffusion of Power in the World Economy,
London: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Liberty
Required Readings
Bromwich, David & George Kateb (eds), On Liberty: John Sturat Mill, New Haven:
Yale University Press, 2003 (Chapter 3).
Recommended Readings
Power
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Required Readings
Dryzek, John, Bonnie, Honig & Anne Phillips (eds), The Oxford Handbook of
Political Theory, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 (Chapter : 3)
Recommended Readings
Agnew, John, Hegemony: The New Shape of Global Power, Philadelphia: Temple
University Press, 2005. (Chapter 2).
Plato, Defense of Socrates; Euthypho, Crito, 1995, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Democracy
VI. The question of democracy is very important and relevant too for the
students of South Asian region. Different issues related to democracy like
representation, public interests and citizenship are covered in this unit.
Required Readings
Tansey, D. Stephen & Nigel Jackson, Politics: The Basics (IVth Edition), Oxon:
Routledge Publication, 2008 (Chapter: 7)
Edwards, Jason, The Radical Attitude and Modern Political Theory, New York:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2007 (Chapter: 5)
Recommended Readings
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Civil Society
Required Readings
Baker, Gideon, Civil Society and Democratic Theory, London: Routledge Publication,
2002 (Chapter 7 & 9)
Sudipta Kaviraj and Sunil Khilnani (eds), Civil Society: History and Possibilities,
Cambridge University Press: 2001
Recommended Readings
Kaldor, Mary, “The Idea of Global Civil Society”, International Affairs, Vol. 79, No.
3, 2003, pp. 583-593.
(If time permits, the concept of Justice will also be included as a separate section. As
for now it is not in the course structure).
While this unit will be open to selection of specific case studies, it intends to
encourage the application of specific concepts to the same. Some key texts are
recommended. However, there is no particular restriction apropos select readings on
the subject. The attempt is to contexualise fundamentals of political theory to the
evolving contours of contemporary international relations.
These cases can also be picked up the students for their term papers.
These are some mandatory readings, which the students are expected to familiarise
themselves with.
Katherine Smits, Applying Political Theory: Issues and Debates, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
Chris Brown, Sovereignty, Rights and Justice: International Political Theory Today, USA:
Blackwell Publishers, 2002.
Michael Walzer: Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations,
USA: Basic Book, 1977.
Keck and Sikkink, Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics,
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UK: Cornell University Press, 1998.
Terence Ball and Richard Bellamy, “New social movements and the politics of difference," in
The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Political Thought, Cambridge University
Press, 2003.
Lorraine Elliott, The Global Politics of Environment, London: Macmillan Press, 1998.
Case Studies
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