Course outline and Syllabus

Political Science 2
3rd Semester

Dr Raka Arya
 Introduction -

• This course is the second part of a three semester sequence

devoted to studying political Science as a discipline
fundamental to understand foundations of law and obedience.
In its second part it examines origin and sources of authority
which is essence of political obligation; its relationship with the
essential dimensions of power that is decision making, agenda
setting and thought control and which is inherent in all political
concepts and philosophies; The notion of political obligation
which is related the cardinal idea of political system –why do
we have to obey the state?; various philosophies of political
obligation with special reference to social contract theory;
historical and philosophical theories.
• The direct outcome of political obligation which
creates relationship between government and the
governed are- the concept of legitimacy (rightfulness
of authority) and its effectiveness is complimentary
to understand the idea of political obligation and
rationale of political stability. It also covers the
aspect of limits of political obligation. Concepts;
philosophies and kinds of Citizenship, rights, law and
justice are interdependent and are ancillary and
essential for the understanding of the discipline.
 Objectives-

• To develop an understanding of the key concepts and theories

relating to political obligation in modern politics.
• To explain the concept of authority as ‘right to exercise power’
over.
• To describes legitimacy as basis of stable government which is
inherent in the ‘rightfulness’; Chief characteristic of a fair and just
system
• To recognizes the significance of political obligation and its role in
the context of formation of political system in contemporary
period.
• To develop the capacity for critical thought, in both oral and
written form.
 Coverage-
• Political Obligation The reason behind the
establishing and creation and to sustain a political
system. It is based on the understanding and
acceptance of the people of the system, when
they realize that they are not just the bearers of
rights but they corresponding duty to respect and
obey the state for their own betterment Origin
and evolution of notion of political obligation in
the modern world from social contract till now.
• Basis and types of political obligation with western
and Indian perspective.
• Political Legitimacy- as an essential condition to test
the’ rightfulness’ of the political system dependent
on different belief systems and cultures of the
people of concerned countries. The idea of
‘Rightfulness’ is linked with the issue –in the manner
power is exercised which results into political
stability or instability in that country. Its very
subjective.
• Limit to political obligation that is either through pacifist manner
–civil disobedience- or through revolution-non pacifist manner- is
the most important aspect of political obligation which makes it
more rational and meaningful.
• Citizenship is an important outcome of notion of political
obligation which creates entitlements and duties. The conditions
of citizenship are different in different countries. In the era of
globalization and multiculturalism a new idea of universal
citizenship has emerged which is more comprehensive and
complex.
• Rights are entitlements to act or to be treated in a particular way
and have various understanding more in context of defining the
relationship between individual and the state in political science.
They are like a limit imposed inside out on the state.
• Law is the mechanism or means through which the
state functions. There is difference of opinion on the
fact that- What is law and who makes it? Whether
those who make law are governed by it or above. The
origin of the principle and philosophy of Rule of Law is
important. Whether law and morality and law and
liberty are complimentary or opposite to each other?
• Order is part of philosophy and rationale of
establishing state it focuses on the part of human
nature that desire stability. It is precondition for
development.
• Justice- behind all concepts and theories,
establishment of institutions, structures and
relationship between the individual and the
state laying the idea of justice. But perception
of justice is different for different people of
different countries and societies. From Plato to
Rawls it has different meanings and contexts.
The practical part of law in modern age of
constitutionalism it has two ways of
application- substantive and procedure.
• Political Science-II (State and Political
Obligation)
Semester-III
B.A., LL.B. (Hons)
Module 1-5
 Module-I- Introduction to Political
Obligation-
• 1.1- Meaning , Nature and Scope
• 1.2- Evolution of the Concept
• 1.3- Contemporary Developments
• 1.4- Political Obligation and Right
• 1.5- Political Obligation and Duty
 Module-II- Political Obligation in Historical
Perspective
• 2.1- Socrates’ perspective of Political
obligation
• 2.2- Divine Command Perspective
• 2.3- Kant’s Perspective
 Module-III- Theories of Political Obligation-

• 3.1- Voluntarism Theory

• 3.2- Utilitarian Theory
• 3.3- Deontological Theory
• 3.4- Anarchist Theory
 Module-IV- Political Obligation and Consent-

• 4.1- Nature and Extent of Consent

• 4.2- Social Contract theory (Hobbes, Locke
and Rousseau)
• 4.3- Types of Political Obligation
 Module- V- Types of Political Obligation-

• 5.1- Legal and Political Obligation- nature and

extent of the Authority in a state
• 5.2- Moral and Political Obligation –nature
and extent of the duty in a society
 Suggested Reading
• 1. Andrew Heywood, Political Theory: An Introduction, 3rd edition, (Palgrave: Macmillan
New York; 2004). (Chapters-5,6,7).
• 2. T.H. Green, Lectures on the Principles of Political Obligation, (Batoche Books: Kitchener;
Ontario; 1999).
• 3. Margaret Gilbert, A Theory of Political Obligation: Membership, Commitment and the
Bonds of Society (Clarendon Press: Oxford; London, 2006)
• 4. John Dunn, Political Obligation in Historical Context: Essays in Political Theory,
(Cambridge University Press; London, 1980)
• 5.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Political Obligation”, .
http;//plato.stanford.edu/entries/political-obligation
• 6. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, (1651), (Penguin; London, 1981)
• 7. John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government, (1689), (Awnsham Churchill;
London, 1690).
• 8. Jean Jacques Rousseau, Social Contract, (1762), (Paris),
• 9. Joseph Raz, The Authority of Law, (OUP; Oxford, 1979).
• 10. John Rawls, Theory of Justice, Harvard University Press; MA, 1971)
 Module-VI- Ideas of Political Obligation-
 

• 6.1- Ancient Indian Ideas and Institutions on

Political Obligation
• 6.2- Contemporary ideas of Political
Obligation
 Module-VII- Dimensions of Political Obligation in Modern State-

• 7.1- Political Obligation and Family

• 7.2- Political Obligation and Identity
• 7.3- Political Obligation and Membership
 Module-VIII- The Constitution of India and Political Obligation-

• 8.1- Nature of Political Obligation under the

Constitution of India
• 8.2- Dilution of Political Obligation
• 8.3- Impact of such Dilution of Political
Obligation-T H Green
Module-IX- Political Obligation and Justice

• 9.1- History and Theories of Justice- Joseph

Raz
• 9.2- Theory of Justice-John Rawls
• 9.3- Natural Duties and justice
 Module-X- Limits on Political Obligation-
 

• 10.1- Political Obligation and Right to Dissent-

Civil Disobedience- D H Thoreau and M K
Gandhi;
• 10.2- Political Obligation and Revolution- role
of state in balancing political obligation-
Edmund Burke