Political Science I

Unit 1 — Introduction

Introduction to the study of Political Science/Politics · Origin, different meanings, definitions of Political Science · Scope of Politics- Ancient/Greek view, and Modern view · Significance of the study of Political Science for Law

Unit 2 — State

Definitions · essential elements · distinction between State and Government, State and Nation, and State and Society. Theories of the origin of state- Social Contract Theory: Views of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau: Critical appraisal of the theory · Historical/Evolutionary Theory · Marxist Theory · Liberal theory · New Liberal theory

• The Concept of the State — Meaning and Definition
• Definitions of State
• Constituent Elements of State and importance of each Element
• Comparative Study — State and Government, State and Society, State and Association
• Social Contract/Consent Theory. (Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau)

Unit 3 — Sovereignty

Definitions and meaning · Internal and External Sovereignty · Types of Sovereignty · Characteristics of Sovereignty · John Austin’s theory of Sovereignty · Pluralist Theory of Sovereignty

• Sovereignty as the Basic Element of the State
• Meaning and Definition of Sovereignty
• Two Aspects of Sovereignty: Internal and External
• Essential Characteristics of Sovereignty
• The Notion of Legal Sovereignty, Political Sovereignty and Popular Sovereignty
• John Austin's Theory of Sovereignty

Unit 4 — Liberty

Meaning, Definition, and Nature of Liberty · Kinds of Liberty (Positive and Negative) · Liberty vs License Debate

Unit 5 — Equality

Meaning, Definition, and Nature of Equality · Kinds of Equality: Social, Economic, Political, Legal · Liberty-Equality Debate

Unit 6 — Rights

Meaning and Nature of Rights · Theories of Rights- Natural Theory · Legal Theory · Marxist Theory · Classification of Rights · Relationship between Rights and Duties