adminThis section has 10 topics. And there are two ways to go about it. You can either study it sequentially from topic 1 to topic 10, or you can follow another patter (and i recommend it), where you start with Ch 10 (western political thinkers).
The 2nd approach i’ve found to be more rewarding. Beginning with thinkers allows us understand topics from basics, and slowly builds up our knowledge. The order of topics I would recommend is:
1] Topic 10 – Western political thinkers.
This will form base of Pol. Science. Thinkers and concepts you will study here will be useful throughout subject, both Paper 1 and 2. So study it thoroughly.
Karl Marx is most important scholar, and there will be no question paper without Marx.
2] Topic 8 – Political Ideologies
This topic is mainly for understanding and you may not get direct questions from this topic. But you may expect a question on Feminism.
3] Topic 2 – Post colonial is most important amongst all. India, Pakistan are examples of post-colonial societies.
*You are independent to choose order for next topics.
4. Topic 3 – Rawls’ theory of justice is prominent topic.
5. Topic 4 – Equality.
6. Topic 5 – Rights.
7. Topic 6 – Democracy.
8. Topic 7 – Concept of power.
9. Topic 1 – Political Theory. Meaning and Approaches.
10. Topic 9 – Indian Political Thought.
1] Political Theory: meaning and approaches
Political Theory: meaning and approaches
2] Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, post-colonial and Feminist
1) Theories of State: Introduction
2) Liberal theory of State
3) Neo-liberal theory of State
4) Marxist theory of State
5) Pluralist theory of State
6) Postcolonial theory of State
7) Feminist theory of State
3] Justice : Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques
Rawls’ theory of justice and its communitarian critique
4] Equality : Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action
Equality, Freedom and Affirmative Action
5] Rights : Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights
1) Theories of Rights & Human Rights
2) Responsibility to Protect
You can also read Human Rights chapter from Paper 2A.
6] Democracy : Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy—representative, participatory and deliberative
Theories and Models of Democracy
Parallely you can also study Politics of Participation and Representation from Paper 2A
7] Concept of power : hegemony, ideology and legitimacy
Theories of Power
8] Political Ideologies : Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism
1) Ideology
2) Liberalism
3) Socialism
4) Marxism
5) Fascism
6) Feminism
7) Postmodernism
8) Gandhism
9) End of Ideology
9] Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy
1) Dharmashastra tradition
2) Arthashastra (Kautilya’s political thought)
3) Buddhist thought
4) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
5) Sri Aurobindo
6) M.K. Gandhi
7) B.R. Ambedkar
8) M.N. Roy
10] Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt
1) Socrates
2) Plato
3) Aristotle
4) Machiavelli
5) Thomas Hobbes
6) John Locke
7) Rousseau
8) J.S. Mill
9) Karl Marx
10) Gramsci
11) Hannah Arendt
Sir,
My name is Jharna.I am really grateful for your organized notes to ease my upsc preparation.Being a student of science background I was facing difficulties to understand the topics.Now iam gradually understanding.Thank you so much for your hardwork and contribution.
Thank you Jharna for your feedback. We are also looking forward to provide better service. And you can always ask questions.