Course Description

Revised Syllabi of Political Science in accordance with the
UGC’s model Curriculum 2001

M. A. (Previous)
(Effective from 2002 – 2003)

Paper – I
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN INDIA
The social and economic processes that underlie the functioning of the political system in India are the focus of this paper.  One needs to understand that the Indian Constitution was intended to provide a framework for a modern, secular and democratic society and simultaneously perform the onerous task of bringing about development in a relatively impoverished and backward country.  This hope and subsequent relative success and failure have to be analyzed in detail.  The new challenges ahead, in the context of globalization, liberalization and greater democratic expansion from below, needs to be examined in the light of the experience of the last fifty years.

M.A. (Previous)
Paper – II
POLITICS IN GUJARAT GUJARAT STATE
India’s diversity, in terms of socio-economic, political and cultural systems provides unusual opportunity for study of the Indian Centre-State systems comparatively.  This paper attempts to study the power of the Centre and the autonomy of the states within the Indian federal system, which reflect and articulate well-defined regional identities.  There is an increasing need to understand that despite the wide array of powers, with which the Centre is armed by the constitution, there has been a growing trend of assertion of autonomy on the part of the states.  The Centre-State relationship in context of liberalization also needs to be focused.

M.A. (Previous)
Paper – III
POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY
This paper deals with Political Sociology and explains the various approaches to study of the subject.  It proposes to introduce concepts like political culture, nature of power and authority, the role of the elite, modernization, the debate on equality and inequality, and the process of social change with reference to India.  Since Lohia said ‘caste is class in India’ there is a need to understand the importance of caste formation and its emergence as an important factor in Indian politics.  The purpose is to critically explain and analyze the social, economic and cultural determinants to the political process in India.

M.A. (Previous)
Paper – IV
Contemporary International Relations
This paper is designed to introduce the key components, players and dynamics of the contemporary International Relations.  The thrust of the paper is to lead the students to think analytically about the prevailing politics at the global level and prepare them for a more complex study of the post-Cold War World Order Studies that they would require ton study in the final year of the Master’s programme.

M.A. (Previous)
Optional Paper – V
ELECTORAL POLITICS IN INDIA
In democratic India the system of election provides the core of representative set-up and a free fair electoral system makes India a true democracy.  Election commission is the highest authority to monitor the whole election procedure which ensures that the soul of democracy remain sacrosanct.  This paper studies the Electoral process, the role of the Election Commission and the patterns of voting behaviour for the last five decades of our democratic process.  In addition the various reform proposals of the electoral process, the issue of criminalization of politics and the system of representation need to be explained and critically evaluated.

M.A. (Previous)
Optional Paper – VI
INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
India’s foreign policy reflects the philosophy of India as a sovereign democratic nation and the self-image and role she conceives for herself in the global policies.  The focus of this paper is the theoretical perspective of the compulsion, constraints and conditions, which actually has framed the country’s foreign policy for the past five decades and on this basis considers the projections for the future.  It also specifically focuses on the challenges of the contemporary times such as globalization, liberalization, cross border terrorism, human rights, environmental and gender concerns and the like and India’s stance pertaining to these issues.

M.A. (Final)
(Effective from 2003-2004)
Paper – V
MAJOR IDEAS AND ISSUES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
This paper intends to study Public Administration in its larger systematic milieu, to identity key interacting in its apparatus and actors, and to develop understanding of measures that affect its operating efficiency and strengthen its functional utility.  It covers the study of the development of bureaucracy and its significant contributions to the process of development, highlighting the importance and imperatives of the study of developmental bureaucracy.  It intends an easy comprehension of a unified and systematic treatment of grass root agencies and other organizations, broadening our cognitive horizon.  It relates public administration with information technology.

M.A. (Final)
Paper – VI
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This paper is a basic introduction to the process and methods of empirical research for achieving scientific knowledge in Political Science.  An attempt is made to relate social science research methods to other courses in syllabus of Political Science.  The criticisms of different methods and schools are included.  The two seminal works of method for political scientists – that of Kari Popper and Thomas Kuhn – are also included along with other important aspects of research methods.  There is a need to teach the method of data collection, sample survey. Preparation of bibliography and questionnaire, writing of a report, dissertation and thesis also form a part of the curriculum.

M.A. (Final)
Paper - VII
Post-Cold War World Order Studies
SPU’s post-graduate department of Political Science is one of the very few departments in Indian Universities offering a paper on such a relevant and latest area as the post-Cold War World Order.  This paper attempts to provide an analytical insight into the shaping of the structures of the world order and aims to explain the role of varied players in influencing and shaping the dynamics of that process.  The paper also focuses upon the India and its role in the post-Cold War world in addition to dwelling upon the regional and international organizations.

M.A. (Final)
Paper – VIII
CONTEMPORARY DEBATES IN POLITICAL THEORY
This development of political theory in the last quarter of the twentieth century has been more in the realm of refinements and adaptations of existing theoretical formulations rather than initiation of new paradigms.  There has been momentous changes world wide, - the collapse of authoritarianism of both left and right varieties and emergence of new initiatives like environmentalism, multiculturalism and post modernism.  This paper seeks to analyze critically some of these recent debates within the discipline with the purpose of understanding the changes that have occurred and the continuities that have remained in the evolution and development of ideas and theories.

M.A. (Final)
Optional Paper – IX
INDIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY
Schumpeter makes a distinction between economics and political economy, the former being value free while the later deals with ideological preferences, debates and alternative proposals.  The Indian democratic set up has lead to a lively debate on economic issues relating to the nature of planning of India during the liberation struggle and the eventual establishment of a planning commission by Subhas Chandra Bose during his Presidency of the Congress Party and the subsequent Bombay Plan and People’s Plan.  The debate continues even after Independence and even today in this age of liberalization and globalization which is the thrust of this paper.

M.A. (Final)
Optional Paper – X
POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Development administration signifies the uses of administration as an instrument of planned economic development and social change in developing countries.  The machinery of development planning at centre, state & local levels, and the new trends of self development & empowerment of the people are the basic emphasis of this paper.  It provides a framework for an overall view of policies by focusing into areas of development, along with the administrative amendments- in areas of local self government.  There is a need to understand the holistic meaning of development, one that leads to the elevation and empowerment of the ordinary people.