Category II
(Political Science Courses for Undergraduate Programme of study with
Political Science discipline as one of the Core Disciplines)
DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC CORE COURSE (DSC-1): Introduction to Political Theory
CREDIT DISTRIBUTION, ELIGIBILITY AND PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
Course title & Credits Credit distribution of the Eligibility Pre-requisite
Code course criteria of the course
Lecture Tutorial Practical/ (if any)
Practice
Introduction 4 3 1 - NA NA
to Political
Theory
MDSC 1A
Learning Objectives
This course seeks to understand the unexamined explanation of what is political. It
investigates various concepts like liberty, equality, justice that build the foundation of political
theory. The core aim of the paper is to inculcate students to normatively and critically analyze
the political arguments and debates. The course therefore develops understanding of the
nature and significance of political theory through various perspectives and conceptual
analysis.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course students will be able to:
• Understand the nature, scope and relevance of political theory
• Understand the different concepts of political theory such as liberty, equality justice,
rights and fraternity
• Develop a broader historical, normative and empirical understanding of political
theory
• Know and understand the ancient Greece and ancient Indian political theory
• Reflect upon the contemporary debates in political theory
SYLLABUS OF DSC-1
UNIT – I (5 Weeks)
What is Political Theory and what is its relevance?
UNIT – II (8 Weeks)
Concepts: Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights
UNIT – III (5 Weeks)
Debates in Political Theory:
a. Protective discrimination and principles of fairness?
b. The Public vs private debate: Feminist Perspective Censorship and its limits
Essential/recommended readings
Unit I
Bhargava, R. (2008) ‘What is Political Theory’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political
Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 2-17.
Bhargava, R. (2008) ‘Why Do We Need Political Theory’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A.(eds.)
Political Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 18-37.
Unit 2
Sriranjani, V. (2008) ‘Liberty’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An
Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 40-57.
Acharya, A. (2008) ‘Equality’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An
Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 58-73.
Menon, K. (2008) Justice’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An
Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 74-82.
Talukdar, P.S. (2008) ‘Rights’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An
Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 88-105.
Unit 3
Acharya, A. (2008) ‘Affirmative Action’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory:
An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 298-307.
Frances E O. (1985) ‘The Myth of State Intervention in the Family’, University of Michigan
Journal of Law Reform. 18 (4), pp. 835-64.
Sethi, A. (2008) ‘Freedom of Speech and the Question of Censorship’, in Bhargava, R. and
Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 308-
319.
Suggestive readings
Berlin, I. “Two Concepts of Liberty”
Rawls, John, A Theory of Justice
Jaggar, Alison, “Introduction”, Feminist Politics and Human Nature
Kukathas, Chandran, “The Demise and Rise of Political Theory”
Riley, J. (2008) ‘Liberty’, in McKinnon, C. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory, New York: Oxford
University Press, pp. 103-125.
Casal, P. & William, A. (2008) ‘Equality’, in McKinnon, C. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory. New
York: Oxford University Press, pp. 149- 165.
Wolf, J. (2008) ‘Social Justice’, in McKinnon, C. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory. New York:
Oxford University Press, pp. 172-193.
