Political Theory: Concepts and Debates

Political theory is a core component in the discipline of Political Science. It helps us to equip ourselves with the analytical tools necessary to differentiate between legitimate functions of government and the arbitrary use of power. It enables the readers to move beyond the apparent truths regarding what is happening in politics. The study of political theory provides precision to our knowledge of the fundamental yet general political concepts like liberty, equality, democracy, development, human rights, justice, etc. Liberty is a manifold concept, and includes natural liberty, civil liberty, political liberty, personal liberty, economic liberty and national liberty, among others. It is central to any political system. Equality too has many facets. Social equality is a state of affairs in which all the people have the same status in certain respects. Political equality within the state is the essence of political dimension of justice. It is concerned with the actual policies through which the political process realizes the norms of justice. Rights are the sum total of those opportunities which ensure enrichment of human personality and the development of society. There are multiple forms and institutions of power, the most powerful being the state which is the aggregate and legitimate power structure of a country. Therefore, state is one of the core issues discussed and debated in political theory. The book describes all these fields and takes up the evolving new sets of ideas and debates that form the core of political theory. These debates and concepts give new insights into the critical frame of understanding and interpreting politics. The book has been prepared according to the syllabus of B.A. (Honours) Political Science in Delhi University. But since the topics of Political Science at graduation level are the same everywhere, the book will also be useful for students of the subject in all the universities in India, including open universities.