MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

In this module, we will discuss the conceptual tools necessary for understanding all the subsequent
modules. It takes up the conceptual history of idea of politics, introduce elaborately the trajectory
of develop of political science as a discipline and influences of hard sciences on its development
and broad components of the discipline; metanarratives in it. The module also deals with the
political philosophy and its relations with other disciplines, role of political ideology and
hegemony. Subsequently it introduces the function of political ideologies and political philosophy
as the foundation of political thought. As minor concepts, the idea of political correctness and
hegemony are taken up and their overarching influences on the political ideas are discussed. This
module on the whole tries to ground the thought process of politics. This module is designed to
provide conceptual foundations which are to guide the students to understand carefully the political
process, institutions and phenomenon.

Grounding the Political Ideas

1. The complex process of conceptualization of “Politics”: Source: International

Encyclopedia of Political Science- Page 1299-1301
2. The History of Political Science as a Discipline: Source: International Enclyclopadia of
political Science by Bertrand Badie: pages: li to lxvii
3. 1. Political Ideologies: This lesson discusses the role and function of ideologies in shaping
our understanding and the political program it gives. Source: Terence Ball and Richard
Dagger in Encyclopedia of Political Science edited by Thomas Kurian from pages
from 759 to 762
4. 2. Political Philosophy: Foundations of political thought: this includes introduction to
difference between political science and political philosophy, difference with history,
normative, synthetic and analytic debate. Source: Chiara Bottici-Encyclopedia of
Political Science-Pages from 1268-1271
5. Political correctness: the history of the idea and how has become new political dogma in
practice and hamper tolerant discussion with people of divergent views. Source:
Encyclopedia of Political Science: pages from 1239 to 1240 (Class 1)
6. The concept of Power: The lesson is intended to discuss about the nature and scope of
power and its contradistinction with other concepts of authority, control and influence.
Source: Bertrand Badie, International Encyclopedia of Political Science: page from
2099 to 2106 (Classes 2)
7. Hegemony: Ideas of Gramsci and Bourdieu from any source and class notes (Class one)

Essential Readings:

Encyclopedia of Political Science;

Introduction to Political Science, in International Encyclopedia of Political Science by Betrand
Badie,

Prison Notes Books of Antonio Gramsci and Ideas of Pierre Bourdieu on the Hegemony

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Module II

Classical Political Ideas from Ancient to Modern

The focus of this module is to identify the foundational ideas of politics from West and East. They
tried to discuss how political philosophers convinced us how political orders came into existence
and what they entail to lives of citizens. Should we obey all the laws and decrees of the state?
Who should rule us, commoner, experts, benevolent despots? How much power the state should
have and how much liberty the citizen should have? To avoid tyranny of majority, should we have
right to behave however we wish, provided we do harm to others? Should right to liberty include
the right to acquire any amount of property and dispose of it however we wish? The state of nature,
state, democracy, liberty and property are the important questions this module discusses.

1. Philosopher King of Plato: An introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan Wolff from

page no 63-77
2. Arthashastra of Kautilya: Translated by Rangarajan; Part 1, Introductory chapter from page
99 to 115 and Part VIII, XII Criminal Investigation (page 458-468)
3. Social Contract of Thomas: Any Internet Source can be used.
4. Social Contract of John Locke: Introduction to Political Philosophy Jonathan Wolff from
page 17 to 24
5. Social Contract of Jean Jacques Rousseau. Introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan
Wolff
Page 24 to 29.
6. Summary of modern social contract: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/contractarianism-
contemporary/:
7. On Liberty by JS Mill: Source: An introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan Wolff
(Pages 104 – 114:
8. Ambedkar: The other prince: Ambedkar, constitutional democracy, and the agency of the
law by Jon Soske (pages 59 to 72 )

9. The Tension between Liberty and Equality: Source: Constitutional Law and Equality and
Liberty by Maimon Schwarzschild paages 160 to 177 in (Blackwell Companion to
Philosophy) A Companion to Philosophy of law and legal theory by DENNIS
PATTERSON: Two Class
10. Gandhi and Political Enlightenment by Akeel Bilgrami:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrcV_TZOdk0 and Gandhi’s Radicalism: An
Interpretation (215 to 245 ) by Akeel Bilgram in Beyond Secular West edited by Akeel
Bilgrami: Two Classes