Political Theory - LPU Distance Education (LPUDE)

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Edited by Dr. Javeed Ahmed Bhat Mr. Rahul Sethi

POLITICAL THEORY

Edited By:

Dr Javeed Ahmad Bhat and Rahul Sethi

Printed by

LAXMI PUBLICATIONS (P) LTD.

113, Golden House, Daryaganj,

New Delhi-110002 for

Lovely Professional University Phagwara

SYLLABUS

Political Theory

Objectives To provide the concepts, ideas and theories in political theory. This course seeks to explain the evolution and usage of the concepts, ideas and theories with reference to individual thinkers both historically and analytically. The different ideological standpoints with regard to various concepts and theories are to be critically explained with the purpose of highlighting the differences in their perspectives and in order to understand their continuity and change. The main objective of this course is to enable the student: ? To comprehend the basic concepts of political theory. ? The acquire the information about the history and development of these concepts. ? To analyze the different viewpoints regarding the basics concepts. ? To compare different viewpoints. ? To synthesize different viewpoints.

S.No.

Topics

1.

Nature and Significance of Political Theory: Meaning, Nature, Characteristics and Varieties of Political Theory, Importance of the Classics of Political Theory, Uses of Political Theory.

2. Power and Authority: Authority, Power and Coercion, The Nature of Authority; Social Theories of Power.

3. State: The State in Political Philosophy, The Economic Theory of the State, The Organic Theory of the State.

4. Sovereignty: Concept, Characteristics and History, Austin's Theory of Sovereignty, Pluralism and State Sovereignty.

5. Rights: Rights in Political Theory, Human Rights, Economic and Social Rights.

6. Liberty: Meaning, Negative and Positive Liberty, Liberty as Autonomy, John Stuart Mill and the Value of Liberty.

7. Equality: The Equality Principle, Human Nature and Equality, Equality of Opportunity.

8. Justice: Meaning, Procedural Justice, Social Justice and Rawls's Theory of Justice.

9.

Welfare and Welfare State: The origins and Rise of Welfare Theory, Contemporary Welfare Arguments, The Market and Welfare, Equality, Liberty and the Welfare State.

10. The Public Interest and Democracy: The Public Interest, Democracy, Procedural Democracy and the Public Interest.

CONTENT

Unit 1: Preamble of Indian Constitution

1

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 2: Fundamental Rights

18

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 3: Fundamental Duties

27

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 4: Directive Principles of State Policy

31

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Sonia Sharma, Lovely Professional University

Unit 5: Union Government: President, Vice President

42

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Sonia Sharma, Lovely Professional Universit

Unit 6: Union Parliament: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

67

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 7: Committees of Union Parliament

92

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 8: Council of Ministers and Prime Minister

107

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 9: The Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review

121

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 10: Public Interest Litigation and Lok Adalats

139

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Unit 11: State Government: State Legislature, Governor, Council of Ministers 149 and Chief Minister

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 12: Indian Federalism

173

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University

Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 13: Centre-State Relations: Legislative, Administrative and Financial

185

Politics

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Sonia Sharma, Lovely Professional University

Unit 14: Indian Political Parties

208

Javeed Ahmad Bhat, Lovely Professional University

Sonia Sharma, Lovely Professional University

Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 1: Nature and Significance of Political Theory

Unit 1: Nature and Significance of Political Theory

Notes

CONTENTS

Objectives

Introduction

1.1 Meaning, Nature, Characteristic and Varieties of Political Theory

1.2 Traditions of Political Theory

1.2.1 Classics Political Theory

1.3 Uses of Political Theory

1.4 Summary

1.5 Keywords

1.6 Review Questions

1.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit, students will be able to: y understand the nature and meaning of political theory. y analyse various political theories. y describe the uses of political theories.

Introduction

Sequential study of the state, political institutions and the nature, work and objectives of the Government is an age old process. Political activity is an activity which regulates the community left of a person through state. Since the time of Greek States, political thinking is searching answer for some of the basic questions like?How fundamental and significant are the political activities? Which foundation of human civilization does it provide to differentiate human beings from the rest of the animals? How the basic problem of human life i.e., to live in community can be solved because to live in community is not only necessary for human nature but it is the essence of the man's personal life. Political theories describe, explain and analyse the political incidents and processes of the society and along with that try to remove their deficiencies. Political theory is a bit complicated subject because it is an integral part of the Western Political thinking which is more than 2400 years old and many political philosophers, religious, economists, socialists, kings and many other people have contributed to it. There is a long list of political theorists and their interest and devotion to the subject had be so vast and different that even to answer a small question. `What is Political Theory' is a very complex task. Along with that there had been difference in the subject area and methodology of Political Theory from time to time due to a long history of political thinking and variety and changes in economic condition.

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Political Theory Notes

From the point of view to study, we divide the political theory into same major streams like?classics, liberalist, Marxists, behaviourists, contemporary, etc. For example, where there was a lot of influence of philosophy on classical political theories and everything was these including objective of theories description of political activities, analysis, and evaluation, here behaviourism gave more importance to science in these political theories and limited them to only the description and analysis of political reality. For the last few years contemporary political theory is trying to combine the philosophical and scientific aspects.

What is Politics?Theorizing the `Political'

What is the meaning of `Political Theory'? To understand this, it is necessary to understand the two words `Political' and `Theory' separately. Here words `Theory' and `Political' are qualifying each other that Political Theory or Theory of Politics indicate to a specific subject. Lets understand minutely. First of all, what is the meaning of `Theory'? The word `Theory' is a Greek word which is related to two other words (i) theoria which means the activity to understand whatever is happening around us. This is called theorizing. (ii) Theorema which means the outcome which is obtained by this activity of theorizing. These are called `Theorem'. The first speciality of both of these terms is that they differentiate between the activity of theorizing and outcome of the activity. This means that the word `Theorizing' is related to the understanding of an incident. This does not imply to prove any result or outcome to make it valid. This is only a process of discovery, research or investigation. Theorizing starts around those incidents which happen around us and about which we know a little bit. The process of theorizing starts because theorist is dissatisfied with the incomplete knowledge and he wants to understand it in details and on logical level. Theorization is an activity to understand through research. As a result of this theorization, the conclusion i.e., `Theorem' will make us understand an incident in a better manner about which we were not able to understand clearly earlier. This Theorization implies to a continuous ongoing and non obstructed effort. This begins with such a subject or incident about which we know a little bit but we need to understand it clearly and elaborately. This means that it is a process of understanding an activity or a subject and to get the knowledge. Its basic motto is `Never Say the end ' i.e., this process to understand will continue tell the incident or the subject become totally transparent, till each and every mystery is solved or till the Theorist is left with no questions worth asking. A theorists work is to understand the facts of an experience or an incident on the basis of same assumptions or on the basis of the arrangement of the assumption i.e., on the basis of the group of the related assumptions lime objective, intention, outcome, reason freedom, equality and satisfaction.

Secondly, if the meaning of theorization is to the willingness the meaningness of any subject then politics is that condition, limit or central point which needs to be theorization. In political theory, `Political' means political. Like `Theory', `Politics' is also a Greek word which has evolved from the word `Polis' which is called `City?State' i.e., the community to take decision for all the perspectives of the good life of a community philosophy like Aristotle have tried to define politics in context of understanding the political activities and their working. Aristotle's saying; "Man is a political creature". Indicates towards the underlying human need of the society and also towards the fact that man can achieve self attainment only through the medium of politics. For Aristotle, `Politics' was so important because it represents such a common political place in which all citizens can participate.

In its modern context the word `political' represents the state and its related institutions like Government, legislative or common policy. Inspite of various notions till date modern city-state or state has been a common subject for the political theorist in the context of politics. As Will Kimilika has said, "Most of the western political theorists have been working on such an ideal model of city state in which all citizen share an ordinary lineage, language and culture. "Here political aspect of the political theory has been related to form, nature and organization of the state and Government and the study of their relation with the individual citizens.

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