B.A. Political Science or Bachelor of Arts in Political Science is an undergraduate Political Science course. Political Science is the study of theory and practice of politics and description and analysis of political system and political behaviour. The B.A. (Political Science) degree course involves study of both national and international political systems. It covers a very broad field which incorporates the study of historical and modern political systems, public administration, governmental policies and procedures, international relations and public affairs. Regarding the duration of course is concerned it is three years.
Syllabus of Political Science as prescribed by various Universities and Colleges.
Sem. I (Option I): Indian Constitution
Sr. No.
Subjects of Study
1
Indian Constitution-Sources and Features, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy.
2
Union Executive - President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers; State Executive- Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.
3
Union Legislature - Parliament-Composition and Functions; Speaker of Lok Sabha Amendment Process; State Legislature -Vidhan Sabha; Panchayati Raj Institutions-History, Basic Features and 73rd Amendment.
4
Judiciary-Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Review and Judicial Activism
Option II: Principles of Political Science
1
Political Science: Definition, Nature & Scope; Relation of Political Science with the Social Sciences, Traditional approaches to the study of Political Science.
2
State: Definition, Elements, Relations with the other organization, Theories of the Origin of State.
3
Sovereignty: Monist & Pluralist; Concept of Welfare State, Liberty, Equality, Rights & Justice.
4
Theory & Practice of Govt.: Organs of Government and their relationship, Operational dynamics – Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Bureaucracy.
Sem. II (Option-I): Indian Politics
1
Federalism and its Working with reference to Centre-State Relations, Demand for State Autonomy; Emerging Trends in Indian Federalism
2
Election Commission, Electoral Process and its Defects and Voting Behaviour, Electoral Reforms, Problem of Defection
3
Party System in India: National and Regional Political Parties, Interest and Pressure Groups
4
Role of Caste, Religion, Language, Regionalism in India, Politics of Reservation, Emerging Trends and Challenges Before Indian Political System
Option II: Contemporary Political Science
1
Modern concerns of Political Science, Behaviourism and Post-Behaviourism
2
Political Theory: Definition, Scope, Nature, Characteristics, and Decline & Resurgence of Political Theory
3
Political Socialization, Political Culture, Ideology, and End of Ideology
4
Post-Modernism, Feminism, Environmentalism, RTI and Consumer Welfare
Sem. III (Option I): Western Political Thinkers I
1
Plato & Aristotle
2
St. Augustine and Machiavelli
3
Hobbes, Locke & Rousseau
4
Bentham and J.S. Mill
Option II: Indian Political Thinkers I
1
Raja Ram Mohan Ray & Swami Dayanand
2
Dada Bhai Narojee & Gopal Krishan Gokhle
3
Swami Vivekanand & Aurbind Ghosh
4
Lala Lajpat Rai & Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Sem. IV (Option I): Western Political Thinkers II
1
Hegal and Karl Marx
2
Lenin and Mao-Tse-Tung
3
GDH Cole and Harold Laski
4
John Rowls and Robert Nozik
Option II: Indian Political Thinkers II
1
J.P. Narayan & Ram Manohar Lohia
2
Mahatma Gandhi & M.N, Roy
3
Jawaharlal Nehru & B,R,Ambedkar
4
Subhash Chander Bose & Bhagat Singh
Sem. V (Option I): Comparative Politics (Theory)
1
Comparative Politics-Definition, Scope; Traditional & Modern Concerns; Comparative Methods
2
Approaches to the Study of Comparative Politics: Input-Out (David Easton), Structural- Function (G. Almond), Political Development (Lucian W. Pye), Political Culture (G. Almond)
3
Constitutionalism: History, Nature, Type and Problem in Modern Times
4
Constitutional Structure: (a) Formal-Executive, Legislation and Judiciary, (b) Informal Structures– Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Option II: International Relations (Theory)
1
Definition, Nature, Scope and Development of the International Relations; and Autonomy Debate regarding International Relations
2
Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist; System and Marxist- Leninist
3
National Power: Definition, Elements & Assessment; Limitation of Power: International Law, International Morality and World Public Opinion
4
Major Concepts: Balance of Power, Collective Security, Environmentalism and Globalisation
Sem. VI (Option I): Comparative Constitutions of UK & USA
1
Evolution, Conventions, Legacies and Basic features of Constitutions of UK & USA; Socio- Economic basis of Constitutions of UK & USA
2
Comparative Study of Executive, Legislation and Judiciary System of UK & USA
3
Comparative studies of Structures, Functions and roles of political parties and pressure groups of UK & USA
4
Electoral Processes, Voting Behaviour, Bureaucracy and Recent Trends of the working of the systems of UK & USA
Option II: International Organization
1
Evolution and Growth of International Organization: League & UN System. Comparison between League and UN Systems
2
Organs of the United Nations
3
Working of UN towards Peace: Peace-Making, Peace-Enforcement, Peace-Building and Peace- Keeping
4
UN & Disarmament; Democratization of UN and India’s Claim for Permanent Seat; and Assessment of UN
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