Trends in PSIR Previous 5 Years and Strategy for Mains 2022
Trends in Paper 1 Part A
· Western Political Thought:
o Trace the evolution of western political thought from ancient to contemporary period. [2020]
· Plato:
o Explain Aristotle's critique of Plato's Idealism. [2019]
o 'Plato was an enemy of the open society'. (Popper). Comment. [2015]
· Aristotle:
o Explain Aristotle's critique of Plato's Idealism. [2019]
o Everywhere inequality is a cause of revolution’. (Aristotle). Comment. [2017]
o Comment on Aristotle's conception of equality. [2015]
· Machiavelli:
o Comment on Machiavelli on secularism. [2020]
o Critically examine Machiavelli's views on religion and politics. [2018]
o Compare and contrast the views of Kautilya and Machiavelli on statecraft. [2015]
· Thomas Hobbes and John Locke:
o Comment on Hobbesian notion of political obligation. [2017]
o How would I and my fellow human beings behave if we were to find ourselves in a state of nature, and what does this behaviour tell us about our innate predispositions? Thomas Hobbes. Discuss. [2016]
o John Locke is a father of liberalism. Explain. [2018]
· J.S. Mill:
o Representative democracy…means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy. (J.S. Mill) [2020]
o John Stuart Mill is a 'reluctant democrat’. (CL Wayper). Comment. [2018]
· Karl Marx:
o Discuss Karl Marx’s concept of class. [2020]
o Differentiate between freedom and liberty. Discuss Marx's notion of freedom. [2017]
o Explain Marx's understanding of human essence and alienation. [2016]
o Discuss the relationship between base and superstructure in Marxist theory. [2015]
· Gramsci:
o According to Gramsci, 'hegemony is primarily based on the organisation of consent.' Comment. [2019]
o Comment on Gramsci's concept of hegemony. [2016]
o Discuss Gramsci's notion of organic intellectuals. [2015]
· Hannah Arendt:
o Critically examine Hannah Arendt's conceptual triad of labour, work and action. [2019]
o Discuss Hannah Arendt's analysis of the role of ideology in the modern totalitarian regime. [2016]
· Political Theory:
o Discuss the significance of normative approach to Political Theory. [2020]
o Comment on resurgence of political theory. [2019]
o Comment on the decline of Political Theory. [2018]
o Comment on the post behavioural approach. [2016]
· Theories of State:
o Comment on Post Colonial theory of State. [2020]
o Write a short note on pluralist theory of the State. [2019]
o Critically examine the neoliberal theory of State. [2018]
o Comment on neoliberal perspective of the State. [2017]
o Discuss the feminist theory of the State. [2016]
o Examine the challenges to sovereignty of the State in the contemporary world. [2015]
· Justice:
o Make a comparative assessment of the Greek perspective of Justice and Rawlsian perspective of Justice. [2020]
o Examine communitarian perspectives on justice. [2019]
o Comment on distributive justice. [2018]
o Analyse John Rawls' justification of discrimination to achieve the goals of justice. [2018]
o 'Rawls' theory of justice is both contractual and distributive'. Examine. [2017]
o Critically examine John Rawls argument for democratic equality. [2016]
o Comment on difference principle in the Rawls theory of justice. [2015]
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Equality:
o Comment on equality of opportunity. [2020]
o Equality means fair treatment rather than equal treatment. Comment. [2018]
o Comment on affirmative action. [2016]
· Rights:
o Assess the significance of right to property in political theory. [2020]
o Discuss the doctrine of 'rights as trump'. [2019/15m/200w/4b]
o What do you understand by three generation of human rights? [2018]
o What do you understand by multiculturalism? Discuss Bhikhu Parekh's views on multiculturalism.[2017]
o The implementation of human rights is regarded as a matter of changing the conduct of states. Comment. [2016]
o Comment on the idea of Natural Rights. [2015]
· Democracy:
o Write a short note on Deliberative democracy. [2019]
o Comment on Substantive democracy. [2018]
o Critically examine MacPherson's views on democracy. [2018]
o Deliberative democracy does not have its salience without participation and Participatory democracy does not have its credence without deliberations. Comment. [2017]
o Explicate the features of representative democracy. [2016]
o Elaborate the difference between participatory and deliberative democracy. [2015]
· Power:
o Examine the nature and meaning of power. [2020]
o Explain the relationship between power, authority and legitimacy. [2018]
o Distinguish between power and authority. [2015]
o Discuss the 'crisis of legitimacy' in capitalist societies. (Habermas). [2015]
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· Ideologies:
o Liberalism as a revolutionary idea. [2020]
o Compare negative and positive concepts of liberty. [2019]
o The political ideology of Globalisation is neoliberalism. Comment. [2016]
o Define socialism. Discuss the salient features of Fabian socialism. [2017]
o Discuss the key features of pre-Marxist socialist theory. [2015]
o What is the contemporary relevance of Marxism? [2019]
o 'Nothing against the state, nothing over it, nothing beyond it'. (Mussolini). Comment. [2018]
o Distinguish between liberal feminism and radical feminism. [2019]
o Comment on Ecofeminism. [2017]
o Comment on Postmodernism. [2017]
· End of Ideology:
o Discuss the end of Ideology debate. [2019]
o Write a brief note on the End of History. [2017]
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Indian Political Thought
· Ancient thought and Kautilya:
o Explain the sources of ancient Indian Political Thought. [2020]
o Discuss Kautilya's views on the elements of the State. [2019]
o What do you understand about the notion of statecraft? Discuss the theory of statecraft as given by Kautilya. [2017]
o Compare and contrast the views of Kautilya and Machiavelli on statecraft. [2015]
· Sri Aurobindo:
o According to Sri Aurobindo, Swaraj is a necessary condition for India to accomplish its destined goal. Comment. [2017]
o Discuss Sri Aurobindo's views on cultural nationalism. [2016]
· M.K. Gandhi:
o Explain ideological components of Gandhism. [2020]
o Discuss MK Gandhi's concept of Swaraj. [2019]
o Examine Gandhi's critique of modernisation. [2016]
o Comment on Gandhi's views on the state. [2015]
· B.R. Ambedkar:
o Comment on Ambedkar on Constitutionalism. [2020]
o Discuss Ambedkar's ideas on Annihilation of Caste. [2018]
o 'Political democracy could not last unless social democracy lay at its base'. (BR Ambedkar). Comment. [2017]
o Discuss Dr. BR Ambedkar's idea of state socialism. [2016]
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Sources and strategy
· Stick to your notes and revise them repeatedly.
· If possible make mind maps and tables for thought and theory for quick revision.
· In case of lack of material, stick to IGNOU.
· Answer writing key for conceptual clarity, interlinkage and scholars to quote.
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