The University of Burdwan

Syllabus for B.A.(Gen.)

in
Political Science
Under Semester with
Choice Based Credit System
w.e.f. 2017-2018 onward
 Structure of B.A. General in Political Science under Semester with CBCS
Semester Name of the Courses Course Type Credit Full Marks
Sem-I Discipline-1(Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-1) 6 75
Discipline-2(other than Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-1) 6 75
English Language Core Course(L1 -1) 6 75
ENVS AECC - 1 4 100
Sem-II Discipline-1(Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-2) 6 75
Discipline-2(other than Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-2) 6 75
Hindi/MIL Core Course(L2 -1) 6 75
Communicative English/MIL AECC - 2 2 50
Sem-III Discipline-1(Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-3) 6 75
Discipline-2(other than Pol. Sc.) Core Course(CC-3) 6 75
English Language Core Course(L1 -2) 6 75
Skill Enhancement Course SEC -1 2 50
Sem-IV Discipline-1(Pol Sc) Core Course(CC-4) 6 75
Discipline-2(other than Pol sc) Core Course(CC-4) 6 75
Hindi/MIL Core Course(L2 -2) 6 75
Skill Enhancement Course SEC - 2 2 50
Sem-V Discipline Specific Elective DSE-1A 6 75
Discipline Specific Elective DSE-2A 6 75
Generic Elective (other than core GE - 1(interdisciplinary) 6 75
Disciplines including Core Languages)
Skill Enhancement Course SEC - 3 2 50
Sem-VI Discipline Specific Elective DSE-1B 6 75
Discipline Specific Elective DSE-2B 6 75
Generic Elective (other than Core GE - 2(interdisciplinary) 6 75
Disciplines including Core Languages)
Skill Enhancement Course SEC - 4 2 50
CORE COURSES (CC) : 6 CREDITS EACH

CC- 1A : WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

CC – 1B : POLITICAL THEORY

CC – 1C : INDIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT

CC – 1D : INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC ELECTIVE (DSE)

DSE -1A : SELECT COMPARATIVE POLITICAL THEORIES Or,

DEMOCRACY AND DECENTRALIZED GOVERNANCE

DSE -1B : PUBLIC POLICY: CONCEPTS AND IMPLEMENTATION IN INDIA Or,

UNDERSTANDING GLOBALIZATION

GENERIC ELECTIVES(FOR DISCIPLINES OTHER THAN POL SC)(GE)

GE-1 : INDIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT.

GE-2 : INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

SKILL ENHANCEMENT COURSES(SEC)

SEC - 1 : LEGISLATIVE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES Or,

ELECTORAL PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

SEC - 2 : PUBLIC OPINION AND SURVEY RESEARCH Or,

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

SEC - 3 : DEMOCRATIC AWARENESS THROUGH LEGAL LITERACY Or,

GENDER SENSITIZATION

SEC – 4 : PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION Or,

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

Detailed Syllabus
SEMESTER – I
CC -1A : WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT : 6 Credits (Theoretical-5 Credit

Tutorial 1 Credit)

1. Ancient Greek Political Thought: Main Features

2. Medieval Political Thought: Main features
3. Machiavelli: Concept of statecraft and powe r politics
4. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau: Concept of Sovereignty
5. Marx and Engels: Dialectical and Historical Materialis m; Revolution; Lenin:
Impe rialis m
6. J.S. Mill: Concept of Liberty

Suggested Readings :
1. G. H. Sabine, A History of Political Theory (USA: Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc,)
2. A.K. Mukhopadhyay, Western Political Thought : From Plato to Marx (Kolkata: K.P. Bagchi)
3. S. Mukherjee and S. Ramaswamy, A History of Political Thought, (New Delhi: PHI)
4. Brian R. Nelson, Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology, (Delhi:
Pearson)
5. Shefali Jha, Western Political Thought (Delhi: Pearson)

SEMESTER – II

CC -1B : POLITICAL THEORY : 6 credits ( Theoretical-5 Credits, Tutorial 1

Credit)

1. The meaning of Politics and Political Theory; Importance of Political Theory;

Different Approaches: (a) Traditional (b) Behavioural and Post-Behavioural (c)
Marxist
2. The Concept of Sovereignty: (a) Monistic (b) Pluralist (c) Popular
3. Liberty and Equality: Meaning and their Inter-relationship
4. Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism

5. Theories of State: (a) Idealist (b) Liberal (c) Marxist (d) Gandhian

6. Political parties and pressure groups: concept and role

Suggested Readings:
1. R. Bhargava and A. Acharya eds. Political Theory (Delhi : Longman, 2008)
2. O. P. Gauba. Introudction to Political Theory (New Delhi : Macmillan, 2011)
3. J. C. Johari. Contemporary Political Theory (New Delhi : Advent Books)
4. S. Ramaswamy. Political Theory: Ideas and Concept (New Delhi : Macmillan)
5. A. Roy and M. Bhattacharya. Political Theory: Ideas and Institutions (Kolkata: World Press)
6. S.P. Verma. Modern Political Theory (New Delhi: Vikash)
7. D.C. Bhattacharyya, Political Theory (Kolkata: Vijoya Publishing House)

SEMESTER-III
CC- 1C : INDIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT 6 Credits Total Classes 60

1.Ancient Indian Political Thought : Features ; Kautilya’s theory of Saptanga and the
concept of ‘Dandaniti’.
2. Main features of medieval Muslim Political Thought.
3. RammohunRoy : perception of British Colonial Rule and their role as Modernize rs.
4. Bankim, Vivekananda : Nationalism.
5. Gandhi : Satyagraha; trusteeship
6. Tagore ; State, Society and Nation.
7. Ambedkar : Social Justice.
Suggested Readings :
1. Altekar, A.S., State and Government in Ancient India (Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass)
2. Varma, V. P., Ancient and Medieval Indian Political Thought (Agra: Lakshmi Narayan
Agarwal)
3. Varma, V. P., Modern Indian Political Thought (Agra: Lakshmi Narayan Agarwal)
4. Pantham, T and Deutsch, K. L., Political Thought In Modern India (ed.), (New Delhi: Sage
Publications)
5. Chakraborty, B and Pandey, R. K., Modern Indian Political Thought, (New Delhi: Sage)

SEC-1 : Legislative Practices And Procedures 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Powe rs and functions of people's representative at different tiers of governance

Membe rs of Parliament, State legislative assemblies, functionaries of rural and urban
local self - government from ZilaParishad, Municipal Corporation to Panchayat/ward.
2. Supporting the legislative process- How a bill becomes law, role of the Standing
committee in reviewing a bill, legislative consultants, the framing of rules and
regulations.

3. Supporting the Legislative Committees Types of committees, role of committees in

reviewing government finances, policy, programmes, and legislation.

4.Reading the Budget Document Overview of Budget Process, Role of Parliame nt in

reviewing the Union Budget, Railway Budget Examination of Demands for Grants of
Ministries, Working of Ministries. ,

5. Support in media monitoring and communication Types of media and their

significance for legislators; Basics of communication in print and electronic media.

Suggested Readings :

H. Kalra, (2011) Public Engagement with the Legislative Process PRS, Centre for Policy
Research, New Delhi

P. Mehta, 'India's Urirkely Democracy: The Rise of Judicial Sovereignty', Journal of

Democracy Celestine, (2011) How to Read the Union Budget PRS, Centre for Policy
Research, New Delhi.

G. Rose, (2005) 'How to Be a Media Darling: There's No getting Away From it', State
Legislatures

N. Jay al and P. Mehta (eds), (2010) The Oxford Companion to Politics in India,
OxfordUniversity Press: New Delhi,

OR

SEC-1 :Electoral Practices And Procedures 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Electoral Process in India-Method of conducting General (Parliamentary)elections and

elections to state assemblies.

2.Election Commission In India-Composition, Structure, Functions

3. Role of Chief Election Commissioner

4. Role of State Election Commission

5. Electoral Reforms in India

Suggested Readings

1. Rakhahari Chatterjee, Politics India-The State Society Interface

2. Kashyap, S. C., Our Constitution (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

3. Kashyap, S.C., Our Political System (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

SEMESTER-IV
CC-1D : INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: 6 credits Total Classes 60

1.a The Constituent Assembly: its Composition and role b. The Preamble and its
Significance

2. (a) Fundame ntal Rights and Duties (b) Directive Principles of State Policy

3. Nature of Indian Federalism: Centre-States relations – Legislative, Administrative

and Financial

4. Union Legislature: LokSabha and RajyaSabha – Organization, Functions and

Lawmaking Procedures; the Speaker; Procedure of Constitutional Amendme nt

5. Union Executive: President and Prime Minister: Powe rs and functions; Governor
and Chief Minister: Powe rs and function

6. Judiciary: Supre me Court and High Courts – Composition and Functions;

7. Party System in India: Features and Trends; Coalition Governments 8. Electoral

Process: Election Commission – Composition and Functions; Electoral Reforms

Suggested Readings :

1. Basu, D. D, Introduction to the Constitution of India (Nagpur: Lexis Nexis)

2. Kashyap, S. C., Our Constitution (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

3. Kashyap, S.C., Our Political System (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

4. Hiregowder, G. C. et al., The Indian Constitution: An Introduction, (New Delhi: Orient

Black Swan)

5. Johari, J. C., Indian Government and Politics, Vol. 1 and 2 (New Delhi: Vikash
Publication)

6. Khosla, Madhab, The Indian Constitution (New Delhi: Oxford)

SEC-2 : Public Opinion and Survey Research 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Definition and Characte ristics of Public Opinion

2 Measuring Public Opinion: Methods and Types of Sampling
3 Inte rvie wing: Types- structured, unstructure d, focused
4 Questionnaire: Question wording; fairness and clarity
5 Prediction in polling research: possibilities and pitfalls

Suggested Readings:
1. R. Erikson and K. TedinAmerican Public Opinion, 8th edition (New York: Pearson Longman
Publishers)
2. G. Gallup, A Guide to Public Opinion Polls (Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press)
3. Kothari, C. R., Research Methodology (New Delhi: PHI)
4. Ahuja, Ram, Research Methods (New Delhi: Rawat Publications

OR

SEC-2 : Environmental Awareness 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Environmentalism: Meaning, Key Related Ideas, Significance

2. Collective action problems and environmental challenges in developing and

developed countries;

3. Major Environmental Movements in India: Chipko – NarmadaBanchao

4. Regional and international efforts to address climate change.

5. Green Governance: Sustainable Human Development

Suggested Readings:

1. Ramachandra Guha, Environmentalism: A Global History (Longman Publishers)

2. Burns H Weston and David Bollier, Green Governance: Ecological Survival, Human Rights, and
theLaw of the Commons (CambridgeUniversity Press)
3. J. Volger, ‘Environmental Issues’, in J. Baylis, S. Smith and P. Owens (eds.) Globalization of
World Politics (New York: OxfordUniversity Press)
4. A. Heywood, Global Politics (New York: Palgrave)

SEMESTER-V

DSE-1A : SELECT COMPARATRIVE POLITICAL THEORIES 6 Credits Total Classes 60

1 Distinctive features of Indian and Western political thought

2 Western Thought: Thinkers and Themes
a) Aristotle on Citizenship
b) Locke on Rights
c) Rousseau on inequality
d) J. S. Mill on libe rty and democracy
3 Indian Thought: Thinkers and The mes
a) Kautilya on State
b) Tilak and Gandhi on Swaraj
c) Ambedkar on Social Justice
d) Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan on Democracy

Suggested Readings:
1. G. H. Sabine, A History of Political Theory (USA: Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc,)
2. S. Mukherjee and S. Ramaswamy, A History of Political Thought (New Delhi: PHI)
3. ShefaliJha, Western Political Thought (Delhi: Pearson)
4. Altekar, A.S., State and Government in Ancient India(Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass)
5. Varma, V. P., Modern Indian Political Thought (Agra: Lakshmi Narayan Agarwal)
6. Pantham, T and Deutsch, K. L., Political Thought In Modern India (ed.), (New Delhi: Sage
Publications)
7. Chakraborty, B and Pandey, R. K., Modern Indian Political Thought, (New Delhi: Sage)
8. Singh, M. P. and Roy, H, Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers, (New Delhi: Pearson)
OR

DSE - 1A : Democracy and Decentralized Governance 6 Credits Total Classes 60

1 Evolution of the state system and the concept of sovereignty.

2 Global Economy: Bretton Woods institutions( WORLD BANK, IMF) and W.T.O.
3. Transnational economic actors-Role of MNC s.
4. Global Poverty: Sustainable Development Goal.
5. Dynamics of Civil Society: New Social Movements and Various interests, Role of NGOs.

Suggested Readings:
1. Chakrabarty, Bidyut and Bhattacharya, Mohit (eds.), The Governance Discourse (New Delhi:
Oxford)
2. Smith, B.C., Good Governance and Development (Palgrave)
3. Evans, J. P., Environmental Governance (Routledge)
4. Rosenau, J. and Czempiel, E., (eds.) Governance without Government: Order and Change in World
Politics (Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press)
5. Mander, H. and Asif, M., Good Governance (Bangalore: Books for Chance)

SEC-3 : Democratic Aware ness Through Legal Lite racy 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1 Constitution – fundame ntal rights, fundamental duties, other constitutional rights

2 Laws relating to dowry, sexual harassment and violence against women – laws
relating to consumer rights and cyber crimes
3 Anti-terrorist laws: Implication for security and human rights
4 System of courts/ tribunals and their jurisdiction in India – criminal and civil courts,
writ jurisdiction,
specialized courts such as juvenile courts, Mahila courts and tribunal

Suggested Readings:
1. Basu, D. D, Introduction to the Constitution of India(Nagpur: Lexis Nexis)
2. Kashyap, S, Our Constitution, (New Delhi: National Book Trust)
3. Gender Study Group, (1996) Sexual Harassment in DelhiUniversity, A Report, Delhi: University of
Delhi.
4. D. Srivastva, (2007) ‘Sexual Harassment and Violence against Women in India: Constitutional and
Legal
Perspectives’, in C. Kumar and K. Chockalingam (eds) Human Rights, Justice, and Constitutional
Empowerment, Delhi: OxfordUniversity Press.
5. J. Kothari, (2005) ‘Criminal Law on Domestic Violence’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.
40(46), pp. 4843-4849.
OR

SEC-3 :GENDER SENSITIZATION 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Conceptualizing Gender in Politics: Political Participation, policy making and

development

2. Security concern for Women and Third Gender/ Transgender.

3. Effective participation of Women in Decision making structures: Impact of

Reservation in Local Government

4. Gende r Identity: Wome n in riot and War.

Suggested Readings:
1. Geetha, V. Gender. (Calcutta: Stree)
2. Geetha, V. Patriarchy. (Calcutta: Stree)
3. Menon, Nivedita, Gender and Politics in India, OxfordIndia Paperbacks
4. Saigol, Rubina, Feminism in India, (Women Unlimited Publication)
5. John, Mary E., Women Studies in India: A reader (ed.), (Penguin India Publication)

Generic Elective (FOR THE STUDENTS OF OTHER DISCIPLINES)

GE-1 : INDIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT 6 Credits Total Classes 60

1.Ancient Indian Political Thought : Features ; Kautilya’s theory of Saptanga and the
concept of ‘Dandaniti’.
2. Main features of medieval Muslim Political Thought.
3. RammohunRoy : perception of British Colonial Rule and their role as Modernize rs.
4. Bankim, Vivekananda : Nationalism.
5. Gandhi : Satyagraha; trusteeship
6. Tagore ; State, Society and Nation.
7. Ambedkar : Social Justice.
Suggested Readings :
1. Altekar, A.S., State and Government in Ancient India (Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass)
2. Varma, V. P., Ancient and Medieval Indian Political Thought (Agra: Lakshmi Narayan
Agarwal)
3. Varma, V. P., Modern Indian Political Thought (Agra: Lakshmi Narayan Agarwal)
4. Pantham, T and Deutsch, K. L., Political Thought In Modern India (ed.), (New Delhi: Sage
Publications)
5. Chakraborty, B and Pandey, R. K., Modern Indian Political Thought, (New Delhi: Sage)

SEMESTER-VI

DSE - 1B : Public Policy : Concept And Implications In India

6 Credits Total Classes 60

1. Public Policy: Meaning, elements and actors of public policy making

and implementation in India.
2.Public Policy in India since independence: An overview
3.Constraints of Public Policy: Economic, Political and Socio-Cultural
4.Public Health Policy in India with special reference to NRHM
 5. Public Education Policy in India special reference to Sarba Sikshya
Abhijan
Suggested Readings:
1. Dye, Thomas, Understanding Pubic Policy, Pearson Education, Singapore.
2. Rathod, P.B, Framework of Public Policy : The Discipline and its Dimensions, Commonwealth
Publishers,New Delhi
3. R. K. Sapru, Public Policy, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi
4. Galtung, Johan, There Are Alternatives: Four Roads to Peace and
Security,Nottingham(Spokesman)
5. De, Prabir Kumar, Public Policy and Systems (Delhi: Pearson)

OR
DSE-1B : Understanding Globalization 6 Credits Total Classes 60

1.Globalization: Meaning and debates

2. Impact of Globalization on Indian Economy
3.Globalization and Terrorism
4.Globalization and ne w international order
5. Globalization and Localization: Dimensions of cultural change
Suggested Readings:
1. Baylis, J. And S. Smith (eds.), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction
2. Nayyar, Deepak (ed.), Governing Globalisation: Issues and Institutions, OxfordUniversity Press
3. Keohane, Rebert and Nye, Joseph S., Globalisation: What is new, what is not
4. O'Meara, Patrick and others, Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century: A Reader,
Indiana University Press

SEC-4 : Peace and Conflict Resolution 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1 International Peace and Conflict Resolution: Basic concepts

2 Theories of International Conflict Resolution: Johan Galtung, Joseph Montville.
3 Cross-border relationships between the world’s peaceful and war-torn zones (refugees and forced
migration)
4 Current perspective of peace and conflict resolution: Grass-roots level perspective on war and peace

Suggested Readings:
1. Kriesberg, Louis, Constructive Conflicts: From Escalation to Resolution (Maryland: Rowman&
Littlefield)
2. Starkey, Boyer, and Wilkenfield, Negotiating a Complex World (Maryland: Rowman& Littlefield)
3. Levy, Jack, "Contending Theories of International Conflict: A Levels-of-Analysis Approach" in
Crocker et al,
Managing Global Chaos, USIP
4. Galtung, Johan, There Are Alternatives: Four Roads to Peace and Security (Nottingham:
Spokesman)

OR

SEC-4 – Human Rights Education 2 Credits Total Classes 30

1. Meaning and a brief history of human rights (UDHR)

2. Human rights – Te rroris m and Counter-terroris m
3. Indian Constitution and protection of human rights
4. National Human Rights Commission – Composition and functions
5.Human Rights Movements in India – Evolution, nature, challenges and prospects

Suggested Readings:
1. Baxi, Upendra, The Future of Human Rights (New Delhi: Oxford)
2. Priyam, Menon and Banerjee, Human Rights, Gender and the Environment (New Delhi: Pearson)
3. Donnely, Jack, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (CornnelUniversity Press)
4. Clapham, Andrew, Human Rights: A very short introduction (Oxford)
5. Narayan, S, Human Rights Dynamics in India(Kalpaz Publications)

6. Mander, H. and Asif, M., Good Governance (Bangalore: Books for Chance)

Generic Elective (FOR THE STUDENTS OF OTHER DISCIPLINES)

GE - 2 : INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: 6 credits Total Classes 60

1.a The Constituent Assembly: its Composition and role b. The Preamble and its
Significance

2. (a) Fundame ntal Rights and Duties (b) Directive Principles of State Policy

3. Nature of Indian Federalism: Centre-States relations – Legislative, Administrative

and Financial

4. Union Legislature: LokSabha and RajyaSabha – Organization, Functions and

Lawmaking Procedures; the Speaker; Procedure of Constitutional Amendme nt

5. Union Executive: President and Prime Minister: Powe rs and functions; Governor
and Chief Minister: Powe rs and function

6. Judiciary: Supre me Court and High Courts – Composition and Functions;

7. Party System in India: Features and Trends; Coalition Governments 8. Electoral
Process: Election Commission – Composition and Functions; Electoral Reforms

Suggested Readings :

1. Basu, D. D, Introduction to the Constitution of India (Nagpur: Lexis Nexis)

2. Kashyap, S. C., Our Constitution (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

3. Kashyap, S.C., Our Political System (New Delhi: National Book Trust)

4. Hiregowder, G. C. et al., The Indian Constitution: An Introduction, (New Delhi: Orient

Black Swan)

5. Johari, J. C., Indian Government and Politics, Vol. 1 and 2 (New Delhi: Vikash
Publication)

6. Khosla, Madhab, The Indian Constitution (New Delhi: Oxford)