Syllabus

LW 6113: SYSTEMS OF GOVERNANCE (Sem. 01/Paper-02)

Credits: 04: Total Class Hours: 72 (including tutorials & proctors)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This subject Systems of Governance focuses on basics of the governance process and divided into
four modules. The first module describes the conceptual part of the subject and highlights on
understanding of society, State, and theories of governance system. The second module introduces
the structure of State and different forms of government and third module focuses on various
checks imposed to restrict governmental power. It also highlights the Fundamental Rights and
international instruments and their absorption in Indian laws. The module four attempts to identify
the problems faced in governance process. It also focuses on inclusive development in India and
how India has been governed by taking pluralism and diversity into the account.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. To understand the fundamental concepts governance process.
2. To motivate the students to learn many constitutional aspects related to governance process
which will be useful in their professional life.
3. To familiarize the students with recent developments in systems of governance.
4. To understand the structures and different forms of government in India.
5. To inform the students regarding various restriction and other checks that are imposed to control
the governmental power.
6. To understand problems of development that are faced by the governance process in India.

TEACHING METHOD:
The teaching method includes face-to-face teaching (lecture method), discussion method, and
followed flipped classroom model (during virtual mode of teaching), along with the group
discussion. It also consists of project assignments, debates and discussion and supplemented with
reading materials of different books, journal articles and different official documents.
MODULE – 1: Introduction to Systems of Governance
This module introduces the systems of governance and provides a conceptual clarity of society,
State and theories of governance. It also gives an idea for origin of State and provides an
understanding of different models of economy followed in India.
1.1. Society and State (Concept, Types, Public Law and Private Law, Constitution of India, Morality
and Legality Aspects), Theories of Origin of State.
1.2. Theories of Governance - Rational Choice and Political Economy
1.3. Indian Political Theory and Capitalist Economy
1.4. Mixed Economy and Nehruvian Socialism Model
Course takeaways: Understanding of different concept i.e Governance, society, State and different
theories of origin of State.
Number of hours: 14 Hours
MODULE – 2: Structure of State and Forms of Government
This module gives an idea in understanding different organs of State and forms of government. At
the same time it also gives an idea to be familiar with other institutions such as Civil Society,
Nation and Government and also discusses classifications of political systems, structure of
government and public policies of different countries.
2.1. Organs of State (Relationships: Legislature, Executive and Judiciary; Legislative Process,
Executive Process and Judicial Process)
2.1.1 Article 11, 12 and 13 of Indian Constitution
2.1.2 Comparative Study of Organs of State
2.2. Forms of Government (Parliamentary, Presidential and Mixed Models)
2.3. Structure of Government: Unitary, Federal and Local
2.4. Public Policy - A Global View (UK., USA and India) and Study of Systems of Government
(UK, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Germany and France)
Course takeaways: Understanding different forms of State and different types governments and
public policies of other countries.
Number of hours: 16 Hours
MODULE – 3: Restrictions and Checks on Governmental Power
This module introduces restrictions and checks to control governmental power. It also emphasized
on Fundamental Rights and international instruments and their absorption in Indian laws. This
module also focuses on judicial review and its applications in India.
3.1. Theory of Checks and Balances
3.2. Fundamental Rights
3.3. International Instruments and their absorption in Indian Laws
3.4. Judicial Review and Applications in India
Course takeaways: Understanding of functions of Fundamental Rights, international instruments
and judicial review.
Number of hours: 14 Hours
MODULE – 4: Problems Faced in Governance
This module focuses on problems and challenges faced by the government while governing the
State. It also highlights on inclusive development and challenges of pluralism and diversity with
centralized power. Module four also discusses how globalization, privatization and
internationalization pose various problems while governing the State.
4.1. Inclusive Development in India - Sacher Committee Report
4.2. Reconciling Pluralism and Diversity with Centralized Power
4.3. Reflection of Social Changes in Governance
4.4. Globalization, Privatization and Internationalization

Course takeaways: Understanding different issues and challenges of governing State such as
pluralism, diversity, centralized power, globalization, privatization and internationalization.
Number of hours: 14 Hours
MODULE – 5: Good Governance
This module focuses on good governance system/framework in any current situations of the
country. It also highlighted how a government takes necessary steps while governing the State in
any crisis situations like COVID-19 global pandemic and other such kind of human crisis. It also
emphasizes on right based approach in policy making and role of e-Governance used for
management of public delivery system.
5.1. Issues Concerning Governance
5.2. Right Based Approach in Policy Making
5.3. Important aspects of Good Governance and e-Governance (Transparency, Accountability and
Citizen Centric Services)
5.4. Role of State during Crisis situation (Natural Disasters, Health and War like situation)
Course takeaways: Understanding the role of State during crisis situation (Man-made/natural) and
good governance system in providing effective citizen centric service delivery system.
Number of hours: 14 Hours
REFERENCES:

1. Bruce R. Scott, “Capitalism: Its Origin and Evolution as a System of Governance”, Springer,
2011 2011.
2. Mark Bevir, “Governance: A Very Short Introduction”, Oxford University Press, 2012.
3. John Pierre and B. Peters, “Governance, Politics and State”, Palgrave Macmillan, 2000.
4. B.Peters and John And John Pierre, “Comparative Governance: Rediscovering the Functional
Dimension”, Cambridge University Press, 2016.
5. A.V. Dicey, “An Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution”, 10th Edition,
Universal Publishing Co, 2013.
6. V.N. Shukla, “Constitutional Law”, 13th Edition, EBC, 2019.
7. Upendra Baxi, “The Crisis of the Indian Legal System -Alternative in Development: Law”, Vikas
Publishing House, 1982.
8. W.G. Paton, “A Text Book on Jurisprudence”, 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2007.

9. Addink Henk, “Good Governance: Concept and Context”, Oxford Scholarship, 2019.

RESEARCH ARTICLES:
1. Upendra Baxi, “Law, Democracy and Human Rights”, Lokayan Bulletin, 5, 4/5, 1987.

2.Michael J. Matheson, United Nations Governance of Postconflict Societies, The American Journal
of International Law, Vol. 95, No. 1 (Jan., 2001), pp. 76-85

3. Terry M. Moe, Michael Caldwell, The Institutional Foundations of Democratic Government: A

Comparison of Presidential and Parliamentary Systems, Journal of Institutional and Theoretical
Economics (JITE) / Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft, Vol. 150, No. 1, Symposium on
The New Institutional Economics Bounded Rationality and the Analysis of State and Society
(March 1994), pp. 171-195.

4. Mark Bevir, Democratic Governance: Systems and Radical Perspectives, Public Administration
Review, Vol. 66, No. 3 (May - Jun., 2006), pp. 426-436.

5. Adrian Leftwich, Governance, Democracy and Development in the Third World, Third World Quarterly,
Vol. 14, No. 3, Democratization in the Third World (1993), pp. 605-624,