Introduction to Political Theory

By DR. SIBAJI PRATIM BASU | VIDYASAGAR UNIVERSITY

Learners enrolled: 849

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY is a 43 Module course which focuses in detail on the political discourse and the actual functioning of the POLITICAL SCIENCE & DIFFERENT POLITICAL THEORY. It simultaneously studies in detail the political function of STATE & philosophy behind SOVEREIGNTY, CITIZENSHIP, RIGHTS, and LIBERTY etc.…

The course is designed to offer an overall understanding of the Political Processes from Ancient to Modern Age.

The course, to be covered in 43 modules, will be delivered over a period of 8 WEEKS, or roughly over 2 calendar months. Between 5 to 6 lectures will be released every week. There will be a fixed slot for discussion, in which the Instructor and Teaching Assistants will respond to questions or queries raised by students.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Duration :	8 weeks
Start Date :	05 Jul 2021
End Date :	28 Aug 2021
Exam Date :	14 Nov 2021 IST
Enrollment Ends :	30 Jul 2021
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate

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Course layout

WEEK 1

1. POLITICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE

2. THEORY & POLITICAL THEORY

3. TRADITIONAL POLITICAL THEORIES

4. NON-TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVES

5. POWER: Notion of Power & Agents of Power

WEEK 2

6. POWER: Bases of Power & Authority

7. POWER: Theories of Power - PART-1

8. POWER: Theorizing Power – PART-2

9. STATE: Origin of State – PART-1

10. STATE: Origin of State – PART-2

WEEK 3

11. STATE: Development of State- PART-1

12. STATE: Development of State- PART-2

13. STATE: Liberal Perspective- PART-1

14. STATE: Liberal Perspective- PART-2

15. STATE: Marxist Perspective- PART-1

16. STATE: Marxist Perspective- PART-2

WEEK 4

17. STATE: Feminist Perspective

18. STATE: Ecological Perspective

19. SOVEREIGNTY: Concept of Evolution- PART-1

20. SOVEREIGNTY: Concept of Evolution- PART-2

21. SOVEREIGNTY: Pluralist Theory

22. SOVEREIGNTY: Globalization

WEEK 5

23. CITIZENSHIP: Concept & Evolution- PART-1

24. CITIZENSHIP: Concept & Evolution- PART-2

25. RIGHTS: Concept

26. RIGHTS: Evolution

27. LIBERTY: Evolution

28. LIBERTY: Development

WEEK 6

29. EQUALITY: Concept

30. EQUALITY: Approaches & Forms

31. EQUALITY: Recent Aspects

32. EQUALITY TO JUSTICE: Evolution of the Idea

33. EQUALITY & JUSTICE: Rawls Theory

WEEK 7

34. EQUALITY & JUSTICE: Rawls & His Critics

35. DEMOCRACY: Concept, Theory, System

36. DEMOCRACY: Development

37. DEMOCRACY: Modern Approach

38. DEVELOPMENT & WELFARE STATE (PART-1)

WEEK 8

39. DEVELOPMENT & WELFARE STATE (PART-2)

40. SOCIAL CHANGE: The Idea of Social Change

41. SOCIAL CHANGE: Theories of Social Change

42. SOCIAL CHANGE: Marxist Theory of Social Change

43. SOCIAL CHANGE: Cyclical Theory of Social Change

Books and references

1. J.D.B. Miller; ‘The Nature of Politics’ (1962); London: G. Duckworth.

2. Sushila Ramaswamy and Subrata Mukherji; ‘Political Theory: Ideas and Concepts’; Delhi, MacMillan Publishers India Ltd, 2003.

3. S.L. Verma; ‘Advanced Modern Political Theory: Analysis and Technologies’; Jaipur, Rawat Publication, 2008.

4. S.P. Verma; ‘Modern Political Theory’; Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 4th edition, 1984.

Instructor bio

DR. SIBAJI PRATIM BASU

VIDYASAGAR UNIVERSITY

Professor Sibaji Pratim Basu, a well-known political scientist and political commentator from West Bengal, teaches Political Science at Vidyasagar University, Midnapore. Graduated from Presidency College (1981) and post-graduated from University of Calcutta (1983), he obtained his Ph.D. also from Calcutta University, working on the thesis: “The Concepts of Nationalism and Internationalism: Tagore and Gandhi”. With a teaching and research career spanning more than three decades, he has taught, written books and articles, conducted and guided research in the areas like Modern Indian Political Thought & Politics; Socialist Thought; Forced Migration in South Asia; Popular Movements and People’s ‘Sustainable Rights’ in India.

Some of his publications include: The Poet and Mahatma: Engagement with Nationalism and Internationalism; an edited volume called The Fleeing People of South Asia: Selections from Refugee Watch; a co-edited volume called Politics in Hunger Regime: Essays on the Right to Food in West Bengal and also an edited book, Forced Migration and Media-Mirrors. He has also contributed articles to edited volumes published by Macmillan Publishers, Oxford University Press, Sage Publishers, Routledge/Social Science Press etc. He is a member of the editorial board of Vidyasagar Rachanasamagra (The Complete Writings of Paandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar) published by Vidyasagar University.

He is a board member, and presently the Secretary of Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group and also holds membership of Institute for Development Studies Kolkata (IDSK – as a nominated member); West Bengal State Book Board (Member, Political Science); besides being the life member of West Bengal Political Science Association.

Course certificate

30% OF INTERNAL ASSESSMENT & 70% OF TERM END FINAL PROCTORED EXAM

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