MA Political Science Syllabus, Scope, Subjects, Course Description 2022-2023

Content Curator

The curriculum for MA Political Science involves certain core courses which revolve around fundamental concepts related to political science. The electives focus on specialized areas of political science. Apart from the core subjects and electives students are also required to either submit a project report or a dissertation on a topic related to and relevant to contemporary political scenarios.

MA Political Science: Scheme of Assessment

The final assessment for MA Political Science depends upon the performance in the final year/semester theory examination and internal assessment. The weightage for the assessments criteria is given below:

Assessment Criteria	Weightage
Theory Examination	70
Internal Assessment	30
Dissertation	100

MA Political Science: Syllabus

The syllabus for MA Political Science across Indian universities has similar courses as part of their core courses. Electives too do not vary much on accounts of course content. Here we have jotted down an overview of the syllabus for MA Political Science.

Name of Course	Topics covered	Objective
Debates in Political Theory	Introduction to Political Theory The Political context Debates on freedom Debates on Equality Debates on Justice Debates on Rights Debates on Democratic Political Community	This course helps to build an understanding of the nature and value of theories attached to politics.
Comparative Political Analysis	Comparative Methods and Approaches Nationalism and Anti-colonial struggle Development Theories of the State State Forms Comparative Party System Social Movements and Revolution	This paper helps in developing perspectives about different forms of politics and the ways in which de-centering has informed the field in significant ways.
Politics in India	Approaches to Indian Politics State in India Class, Caste, Tribe and Gender Religion, Region and Language Development Process Political Parties Elections Social Movements: Objectives, methods, impact and the recent trend	This course focuses on the various aspects of society and how it informs political practices in India.
Theories of International Relations	Introduction to International Relations Structural Realism Indian Tradition: Kautilya’s Realpolitique Chinese Tradition European Schools of Thought The English School Neo-Liberalism Institutionalism Alternative Approaches in International Relations Problems of the ‘International’	In this course, students learn the diverse traditions of theoretical approaches to International Relations as they have evolved around the world.
Administrative Theory	Evolution of the discipline of Public Administration Contextual Public Administration Contemporary Development – New Public Administration, New Public management Grassroots governance: alternative perspectives	This course focuses on the theories which have helped shape the modern system of governance and their related structures and processes.
Themes in Indian Political Thought	Perspectives Theories and practices of Knowledge State Conception and Forms of communities Critical Perspectives on Indian Society The Nation in Indian Political Thought	This course introduces students to the tradition of Indian Political Thought.
Interpreting Modern India	Conceptions of the Modern Perspectives on Justice and Social Transformation Conceptions of Nationalism Development and its Critiques Community, Civil Society and Public Sphere Debates on Globalization	This course aims to introduce students about the state of affairs in contemporary India and where the country might head to.
Democracy and Political Institutions in India	Theory and Practice of the Indian Constitution Functioning and inter-relationship of governmental institutions Federalism Local Self Government Rule of law, rights, and accountability	This course aims at studying contemporary institutional forms and practices and their historical evolution.
Political Philosophy	Introduction Plato : The Republic Aristotle : The Politics Machiavelli : The Prince Hobbes : Leviathan Locke : The Second Treatise of Government Rousseau : Social Contract Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals Hegel : Philosophy of Right Marx and Engels Nietzsche : On the Genealogy of Morals Mary Wollstonecraft : A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Mahatma Gandhi : Hind Swaraj	This course aims to introduce students to western classical texts which have helped in the formation and evolution of political thought.
Themes in World Politics and International Political Economy	Concepts of State, Power, Security, Culture and Religion International Political Economy Environmental Governance Global Challenges and Movements	This course introduces certain key concepts to understand world politics and the fundamental theoretical issues in the field of International Political Economy.
Ethics and Politics	The Nature of Ethical Reasoning Sexual, Racist and Caste Discrimination Poverty and Hunger Environment Militarization Corruption Free Speech Secularism, Tolerance and Minority Rights The Morality of Representation Ethics and Politics of the Family Ethics and the Profession	Ethics is an important part of political thought and this course analyses the relationship between Ethical issues and Politics.
Critical Traditions in Political Theory	Marxism Feminism Dalit Bahujan Critique Critical Race Theory Ecological Critique	This course aims to highlight the primary challenges to mainstream liberal theory.
Social Movements and Revolution	Revolution – French, Bolshevik, Chinese Ideology and politics of liberation in Asia and Africa Social Movements Ideology and Politics of Social Movement	This course focuses on the various aspects of different movements and highlights the conceptual, historical and empirical distinction between revolutions and social movements.
Parties, Elections and Political Process in India	Typology of Political parties in India Party System in India The changing profile of National Political Parties Regional and State Parties Elections in India Non-Party Movements, NGOs and their impact on Political Parties and Representation of People’s Interests	This course talks about the party system and the electoral system in the Indian context.
Development Process and Politics in India	Theory of the Developmental State Concept of Development Socio-Economic Problems and Issues of Development in India Development Strategy and State Policies in India Shift in Developmental Policies and Strategies Critiques of Development and Alternative Models Democracy, Decision Making and Development Non-Governmental Initiatives, and People’s Empowerment	This course is about the theory and practice of development issues in India.
Democracy and Human Rights in India	The concept of Human Rights National and International Dimensions of Human Rights and Constitutional-Legal Framework in India Human rights: Issues and challenges Impact on deprived groups State response to Human rights Civil Society and Human Rights NHRC and Other Commission Reports Democracy, development and Human Rights in India	Human Rights is an integral part of political thought and this course highlights the interrelationship between the two disciplines.
Public Institutions and Governance	Theoretical Issues: State and Development: Historical and Comparative Experiences From Structural Adjustment to Good Governance Public Finance & Management Administrative and Civil Service Reform Practical Issues in India State Governments: Comparative Development Performance Public Enterprises in India Social Development: Issues, Policies & Challenge Infrastructure Development: Issues, Policies & Challenges	This course focuses on various issues relating to public enterprises and their function. It also examines administrative and civil services reforms and their results.
Rural-Urban Development and Local Government in India	Understanding the 'rural’ and 'urban' in India. What is Development? Institutional framework for Rural & Urban Development Planning Rural Development: Approaches, Policies, and Programmes: Planning Urban Development: Approaches, Policies and Programs Decentralization, and Local Governments Devolution and functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions Devolution and functioning of Urban Local Bodies People's Participation in Rural-Urban Development: Role of NGO's and Citizen Groups	This course examines the local forms of government in the rural and urban setting both before and after the constitution of Panchayati Raj Institution.
Environment and Development: Policy and Politics	Environment and Development: An Introduction State, Market, Community & Local Governments Policy, Politics, Institutions, and Resources Poverty-Environment Inter-linkages Caste, Gender and Environment Global Commons and Initiatives Environmental and Social Movements	This course focuses on various problems, policies, and practices in the context of the environment in India.
Public Policy	What is Public Policy? Public Policy: Concept and Dimension Approaches to Public Policy Studies Public Policy Process Public Policy Analysis: Quantitative and Qualitative Models Public Policy Research and Development Public Policy in India: Models and Trends Globalization. MNCs, WTO, and Development in India Impact of Public Policies on Socio-Economic Development and Nation Building in India	This course aims to explain the nature and need of public policy in theoretical, financial and practical context.