Minor-I Paper-I (Political Science): Political Theory

Unit 1 — Introduction to Political Science

1.1 Meaning, nature and scope of political science. · 1.2 Significance of political science to the study of Law. · 1.3 Approaches to the study of Political Science Traditional approach, Behavioural approach and Post-Behavioral approach.

Unit 2 — Concept of State:-

2.1 State – Meaning & elements of State, State and Association. · 2.2 Theories of the Origin of state. 2.2.1 Divine Origin Theory. 2.2.2 Social Contract Theory. 2.2.3 Evolutionary Theory.

• The Concept of the State — Meaning and Definition
• 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 — Liberty, Equality and Justice.

3.1 Concepts, kinds and safeguards of Liberty. · 3.2 Equality- meaning, kinds and importance of equality. · 3.3 Justice-meaning, kinds and relationship between liberty, equality and Justice.

Unit 4 — Approaches to the study of State.

4.1 Normative Approach. · 4.1 Descriptive Approach. · 4.3 Marxist Approach.

Unit 5 — Law and Sovereignty.

5.1 Meaning, nature and sources of Law. · 5.2 Historical and Positivists perspective of law. · 5.3 Sovereignty - Concept, characteristics and kinds. · 5.4 Monistic Theory and Pluralistic Theory. · 5.5 Challenges to Sovereignty in the 21st Century.

• Law
• Sources of law
• Legal positivism Bentham's Utilitarian theory, Austin's Imperative/ Analytical theory, Prof. HLA Hart's Concept of Law, Hans Kelson's Pure Theory of Law
• Law and Morality, Ancient Indian concept of Dharma
• Historical school of law — Savigny's view, Puchta's view, Main's view
• Sovereignty as the Basic Element of the State
• Meaning and Definition of Sovereignty
• Essential Characteristics of Sovereignty
• The Notion of Legal Sovereignty, Political Sovereignty and Popular Sovereignty
• John Austin's Theory of Sovereignty