1 Political Theory

Approaches: Normative, Empirical, Behavioral

Theories of State: Classical, Pluralist and neo- Pluralist
Concepts:
State, Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Political
Obligation, Citizenship.
Political Ideology:
Nationalism
Liberalism
Conservatism
Socialism
Communism
Capitalism
Feminism
Ecologism
Multiculturalism
Postmodernism
Research Methodology in Political Science
2 Western Political Thoughts
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Confucius, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau,Harold Laski, Jeremy
Bentham, Hegel, Mary Wollstonecraft, John 16-Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, T.H. Green, Gramsci, Hannah
Arendt, Frantz Fanon, Mao Zedong, John Rawls etc.
3 Indian Knowledge System and Political Thought
Ancient Indian Thoughts and Legacy of Indian Polity, Vedic Period, Shantiparva, Political thought of
Jain and Buddhist philosophy, Dharmashastra Kautilya, Aggannasutta, Barani, Kabir, Pandita
Rambai, Swami Vivekanand, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
Rabindranath Tagore, M. K. Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Muhammad Iqbal,
M.N.Roy, V. D. Savarkar, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, J. L. Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jaya Prakash
Narayan, Deendayal Upadhyaya, Vinoba Bhave
4 Comparative Political Analysis
Approaches:
Systems, Structural Functionalism,Social, Institutional, Political Culture, Political Economy and New
Institutionalism; Comparative Methods
Colonialism and decolonization:
forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles and decolonization
Comparative Nationalism: European and non-European, Western and Eastern World.
State theory:
debate over the nature of state in capitalist and socialist societies; post-colonial state; welfare state;
globalization and nations-states
Political regimes: democratic (Electoral, Liberal, Majoritarian and Participatory) and non-democratic
regimes (Patrimonialism, Bureaucratic authoritarianism, Military dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and
fascism).
Constitutions and Constitutionalism:
Forms of constitutions, Constitutional Values, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal
constitutionalism; emergency powers and crisis of constitutionalism, Comparative analysis of world
Constitutions.
Democratisation: democratic transition and consolidation.
Development: Underdevelopment, Dependency, Modernization, World Systems Theory,
development and democracy.
Structures of Power: ruling class, power elites, democratic elitism
Actor and Processes:
Electoral Systems, Political Parties and Party System, Interest groups, Social movements, new social
movements, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society campaigns; Revolutions.
5 International Relations
Approaches to the study of International relations:
Idealism, Realism, Structural Marxism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical
International Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism.
Concepts:
State, state system and non-state actors, Power, Sovereignty, Security: traditional and non-
traditional.
Conflict and Peace: Diplomacy, Changing Nature of Warfare; Weapons of mass destruction;
deterrence; conflict resolution, conflict transformation.
United Nations: Aims, Objectives, Structure and Evaluation of the Working of UN; Peace and
Development perspectives; Humanitarian intervention. International law;
Political Economy of IR: Globalisation; Global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South
Dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS.
Regional Organisations:
European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN.
Contemporary Challenges:
International terrorism, Climate change and Environmental Concerns, Human Rights, Migration and
Refugees; Poverty and Development; Role of Religion, Culture and Identity Politics, Bilateral and
Multilateral Relations, Multi Track Diplomacy
6 India’s Foreign Policy
Perspectives on India’s Foreign Policy: India’s Identity as postcolonial, development, rising power
and as emerging political economy.
Continuity and change in India’s Foreign Policy: Principles and determinants; Non-Alignment
movement: historical background and relevance of Non Aligned Movement; India’s Nuclear Policy
India’s relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People’s Republic of China
India’s Engagement with multipolar world: India’s relations with European Union, BRICS,
ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, Southern African Development
Community, Gulf Cooperation Council
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India’s relations with neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look East/ Act East, Look West.
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India’s Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes: The United Nations, World Trade
Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
 International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, Quad Group
Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and
refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security
India’s Changing Foreign Policy in 21st Century.
7 Political and Administrative Institutions in India
Making of the Indian Constitution:
Colonialism heritage and the contribution Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian
Constitution.
Constituent Assembly: Composition, Ideological Moorings, Constitutional Debates
Philosophy of the Constitution:
Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles
Constitutionalism in India:
Democracy, Social Change, National Unity, Checks and Balances, Basic Structure Debate,
Constitutional Amendments
Union Executive:
President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Secretariat, PMO and Council of Ministers
Union Parliament:
Structure, Role and Functioning, Parliamentary Committees
Judiciary:
Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reform.
Executive and Legislature in the States:
Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature, Secretariat.
Federalism in India:
Strong Centre Framework, Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption, Role of
Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Emerging Trends.
Electoral Process and Election Commission of India:
Conduct of Elections, Rules, Electoral Reforms.
Local Governance:Evolution, 73rd& 74th Constitutional Amendment, Functioning and reforms,
District Administration.
Constitutional and Statutory Bodies:
Comptroller and Auditor General, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission
for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Human
Rights, National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities, etc.
8 Political Processes in India
State, Economy and Development:Indian National Movement, Nature of Indian State, Development
Planning model, New Economic Policy, Growth and Human Development.
Process of globalisation: social and economic implications, Social Justice, Identity Politics:
Religion, Tribe, Caste, Region, Language.
Social Movements: Dalit, Tribal, Women, Farmers, labour.
Civil Society Groups: Non-Party Social Formations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social
Action Groups, Pressure Groups.
Regionalisation of Indian Politics:Formation &Reorganisation of Indian States, States as Political
and Economic Units, Sub-State Regions, Regional disparities, Demand for New States, Centre-State
relations.
Gender and Politics in India: Issues of Equality and Representation. Ideology and Social basis of
Political Parties: National Parties, State Parties.
Electoral Politics: Participation, Contestation, Representation, Emerging trends, Psephology.
9 Public Administration:
Meaning and Evolution; Political Science and Public Administration Dichotomy, public and private
administration.
Approaches:Classical, Behavioral, System Theory, Decision Making, Ecological Approach,etc.
Public administration theories and concepts:
Scientific Management Theory, Rational Choice theory, New Public Administration, Development
Administration, Comparative Public Administration, New Public Management, changing nature of
Public Administration in the era of liberalisation and Globalisation, Public Value Management.
Organisation:Theories and Principles of Organization,Types of Organisation, Scientific
Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory
Managing the organization: Theories of leadership and motivation, POSDCORB.
Administrative Thoughts:Woodrow Wilson, - F. W. Taylor, Henry Fayol, MaryParker Follett, Elton
Mayo, Max Weber, Chester Bernard,Herbert 18-Simons, F. W. Riggs, Abraham Maslow, Peter Drucker
10 Governance and Public Policy in India
Concepts:Governance, good governance, New governance and democratic governance, role of state,
civil society and individuals.
Accountability and control:
Institutional mechanism for checks and balances, legislative control over executive, administrative
and budgetary control, control through parliamentary committees, judicial control over legislature and
executive, administrative culture, corruption and administrative reforms, Reports of Administrative
reforms commission.
Institutional mechanisms for good governance:
Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter; Grievance redress system:
Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta
Grassroots Governance:Urban local governance, Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning
Planning and Development:
Decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory
development,e-governance; NITI Aayog
Public Policy:Public Policy Process, Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development,
public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA,
NHRM, RTE,etc.
Monitoring and evaluation of public policy; mechanisms of making governance process accountable:
Jansunwai, Social audit, Policy Analysis.

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