Political thought is the description of the political ideas of a host of political philosophers from

beginning to end. It is the sum-total of ideas on matters relating to politics, state, and government as
expressed by the thinkers. It is historical because it is described as history. It analyses, examines, and
evaluates issues that have a universal concern and are of perennial interest even though each
political theorist responds to a particular political reality. It is written keeping the larger public in
mind and is not confined to ivory towers for an intimate link is established between the political
process, institutions, events, and actors. Usually, political theory flourishes in times of crises which
act as stimulus though not all crises need to lead to political theorizing.
1) The Indian political
thought by nature, is
wholesome in general and
political, only in
particular. The
Manusmriti talks about
economy region,
society, family politics,
and universalism.
Kautiliya's Arthashastra
also talks
about the state and
society, politics and
economy, religion and
economy,
1) The Indian political
thought by nature, is
wholesome in general and
political, only in
particular. The
Manusmriti talks about
economy region,
society, family politics,
and universalism.
Kautiliya's Arthashastra
also talks
about the state and
society, politics and
economy, religion and
economy,
1) The Indian political thought by nature, is wholesome in general and

political, only in particular. The Manusmriti talks about economy region,

society, family politics, and universalism. Kautiliya's Arthashastra also talks

about the state and society, politics and economy, religion and economy,

religion and universalism, ethics and sociology. The Gandhian thought

has also been universal.
2) Indian political thought has been ethical to the point of being spiritual.
The ancient and medieval and even modern (Sri Aurobindo in
particular) did talk about spiritualism, interpreting politics from 'above'
politics point of view. Even the hardcore realist, Kautilya, talked
about 'Rajdharma'.
3) The Indian political thought has been the product of conciliation and
harmonization. Western Political thought arose as the result of
conflicts and hence had been conflictive. The Indian Political thought
has been the result of assimilation and cooperation.
4) The Indian Political thought has been largely a philosophical exercise.
Manu interpreted his thought relatively merely philosophically. Gandhi's
views on Swadeshi, Swarajya, and non-violence have been
philosophically interpreted. The Indian concept of democracy has been
substantive rather than merely procedural. Tagore's views on nationalism
are critically universal.
religion and universalism, ethics, and sociology. The Gandhian thought

has also been universal.

2) Indian political thought has been ethical to the point of being spiritual.

The ancient and medieval and even modern (Sri Aurobindo in

particular) did talk about spiritualism, interpreting politics from 'above'

politics point of view. Even the hardcore realist, Kautilya, too talked

about 'Rajdharma'.

3) The Indian political thought has been the product of conciliation and
harmonization. Western Political thought arose as the result of

conflicts and hence had been conflictive. The Indian Political thought

has been the result of assimilation and cooperation.

4) The Indian Political thought has been largely a philosophical exercise.

Manu interpreted his thought relatively merely philosophically. Gandhi's

views on Swadeshi, Swarajya, and non-violence have been

philosophically interpreted. The Indian concept of democracy has been

substantive rather than merely procedural. Tagore's views on nationalism

are critically universal.

) The emphasis of Indian Political Thought has been on the solution of

social issues rather than economic ones. Raja Rammohan Roy's
philosophy had been the philosophy of restructuring the Indian
society afresh. In that sense, the Indian political thought has been
reformative.
6) In India Political thought has been largely an administrative exercise.
All the philosophers including Manu, Kauatilya, Barani, Abul Fazl, and the
modern, though influenced by nationalistic thought, was mainly
concerned with the administration aspect of politics,
7) Indian Political thought has been mainly concerned with the
obligation part of politics: What should be the duties of the ruler? What
should the citizens do? Accordingly, the Indian political thought had been
duty-oriented rather than power-oriented.
5) The emphasis of Indian Political Thought has been on the solution of

social issues rather than economic ones. Raja Rammohan Roy's

philosophy had been the philosophy of restructuring the Indian

society afresh. In that sense, the Indian political thought has been

reformative.

6) In India Political thought has been largely an administrative exercise.

All the philosophers including Manu, Kauatilya, Barani, Abul Fazl, and the

modern, though influenced by nationalistic thought, were mainly

concerned with the administration aspect of politics,

7) Indian Political thought has been mainly concerned with the

obligation part of politics: What should be the duties of the ruler? What

should the citizens do? Accordingly, the Indian political thought had been

duty-oriented rather than power-oriented.

1) Western political
philosophy combines
idealism and realism.
Aristotle
promotes realism, while
Plato represents political
idealism. Following him,
all
other political
philosophers were either
Platonists or Aristotelians.
St.
Augustine, Rousseau,
Hegel, and Kant are
Platonists, while St.
Aquinas, Locke,
classical liberals and
current behaviouralists are
Aristotelians.
1) Western political philosophy combines idealism and realism. Aristotle

promotes realism, while Plato represents political idealism. Following him, all

other political philosophers were either Platonists or Aristotelians. St.

Augustine, Rousseau, Hegel, and Kant are Platonists, while St. Aquinas, Locke,

classical liberals, and current behaviouralists are Aristotelians.

) The story of progress in

Western political thought
is told through polemics.
Aristotle critiqued Plato
while also contributing to
the development of
Western
political thinking. Hobbes
was a critic of Aristotle
and a pioneer of Western
thinking. Other instances
include Locke's polemics
against Filmer, Bentham's
2) The story of progress in Western political thought is told through polemics.

Aristotle critiqued Plato while also contributing to the development of Western

political thinking. Hobbes was a critic of Aristotle and a pioneer of Western

thinking. Other instances include Locke's polemics against Filmer, Bentham's

polemics against
Bladestone, Mill's
polemics against
Bentham, Marx's polemics
against Hegel, Adam
Smith's polemics against
Prodhon, and so on.
3) Western political
thought progressed from
ethical to materialistic
interpretations: Aristotle
began his description of
political institutions with
an
ethical approach and
progressed to justifying
what was practicable—
then came
the liberals, and finally
Marx, who gave the
materialistic
interpretation.
4) Western political
theory has primarily been
secular, however critical
thought
influenced medieval
political philosophy; yet,
with the Reformation and
Enlightenment, the early
modern political thought
of the West continued to
evolve with secularistic
learnings.
polemics against Bladestone, Mill's polemics against Bentham, Marx's polemics

against Hegel, Adam Smith's polemics against Prodhon, and so on.

3) Western political thought progressed from ethical to materialistic

interpretations: Aristotle began his description of political institutions with an

ethical approach and progressed to justifying what was practicable—then came

the liberals, and finally Marx, who gave the materialistic interpretation.

4) Western political theory has primarily been secular, however critical thought

influenced medieval political philosophy; yet, with the Reformation and

Enlightenment, the early modern political thought of the West continued to

evolve with secularistic learnings.

5) The divergence
between basic conceptions
in Western political theory
increased. The Greeks
considered the polis to be
a single entity that
included a city,
society, state, and
government; the Romans
focused mostly on
administrative
matters, relying on
government. Liberals
began to distinguish
between the state
and society, but they were
unable to climb beyond
the state and the
government,
which they saw as the
same. Now, all of these
notions are distinguished
in Western political
philosophy.
6) The multidisciplinary
approach is central to
Western political theory.
It
comprehends politics from
a variety of perspectives,
including economics,
sociology, history, and
psychological ethics. It
takes a comprehensive
look at
the situation as a whole.
7) Another feature of
Western political
philosophy is its
timelessness. Work on
Western Political Thought
has lasted well beyond its
period. If you read Plato
in
the sixteenth century, you
will have a new
perspective on him; in the
twentieth
5) The divergence between basic conceptions in Western political theory

increased. The Greeks considered the polis to be a single entity that included city,

society, state, and governments; the Romans focused mostly on administrative

matters, relying on government. Liberals began to distinguish between the state

and society, but they were unable to climb beyond the state and the government,

which they saw as the same. Now, all of these notions are distinguished

in Western political philosophy.

6) The multidisciplinary approach is central to Western political theory. It

comprehends politics from a variety of perspectives, including economics,

sociology, history, and psychological ethics. It takes a comprehensive look at

the situation as a whole.

7) Another feature of Western political philosophy is its timelessness. Work on

Western Political Thought has lasted well beyond its period. If you read Plato in

the sixteenth century, you will have a new perspective on him; in the twentieth

century, Plato's allure does

not fade; rather, it
develops with time.
Similarly, any
other text on Western
political thinking is true.
They may not be
authentic, but
they always appear to be
authentic.
8) Western political
thinking arose from a
period of social upheaval.
Socrates,
Plato and Aristotle were
all born out of the ancient
Greek society's crises.
Hobbes, Locke, and
Rousseau were born
during the English Civil
War and the
turbulent times of France.
Philosophy emerges from
a crisis.
Plato's allure does not fade; rather, it develops with time. Similarly, any

other text on Western political thinking is true. They may not be authentic, but

they always appear to be authentic.

8) Western political thinking arose from a period of social upheaval. Socrates,

Plato and Aristotle were all born out of the ancient Greek society's crises.

Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau were born during the English Civil War and the

turbulent times of France. Philosophy emerges from a crisis.