okUV (Title)

Ideas and ConceptsIdeas and Concepts

Political TheoryPolitical Theory

Sushila Ramaswamy

Second Edition

POLITICAL THEORYIdeas and ConCepts

SUSHILA RAMASWAMYAssociate Professor

Department of Political ScienceJesus and Mary College

University of Delhi

Delhi-1100922015

Second Edition

POLITICAL THEORY: Ideas and Concepts, Second EditionSushila Ramaswamy

© 2015 by PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN-978-81-203-5048-9

The export rights of this book are vested solely with the publisher.

Published by Asoke K. Ghosh, PHI Learning Private Limited, Rimjhim House, 111, Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi-110092 and Printed by Raj Press, New Delhi-110012.

To the memory ofSir Isaiah Berlin (1909 –1997),

one of the finest and most formidable exponent of freedom and pluralism in our times

v

Contents

Preface ....................................................................................................................xiii

Preface to the First Edition ...................................................................................... xv

1. Nature of Political Theory ................................................................. 1

Political Theory and Other Interrelated Terms 2Meaning of the Political and Different Ideologies 5Usages of Political Theory 7

As the History of Political Thought 7 As Technique of Analysis 8 AsConceptualClarification 9 As Formal Model Building 9 As Theoretical Political Science 10

Key Theoretical Concepts 10Changing Context of Words and Its Implication for Political Theory 12Approaches to Political Theory 13Conclusion 18

Further Readings 18Endnotes 19

2. Contemporary Political Theory ................................................... 20

Positivism 20Logical Positivism 21Linguistic Philosophy 24Behaviouralism 26

Criticisms of Behaviouralism 29

Is Political Theory Dead? 31Revival of Political Theory 34Defence of the Classical Tradition 40

Berlin and Wolin 40

Kuhn’s Seminal Contribution 44Post Behaviouralism and Neo-Behaviouralism 45Conclusion 46

Further Readings 47

vi Contents

3. Politics, Power and Authority ....................................................... 48

Politics: An Activity and an Academic Discipline 48

Traditional Approach 49 New Approaches 49 Institutional Approach 50

What is Politics? 50

Power, Rule and Authority 52 Authoritative Allocation of Values 52 CollectiveChoice,ConsensusorConflict 55

Notion of Power 56Analysis of Power 59

Hobbes and Locke 59 Elitists and Pluralists 61 Critics of Mills 63 Criticism 66 Reformed and Neo-Pluralism 67 Class and Power —The Marxists 67 Group and Power: The Subaltern View 70 Gender, Patriarchy and Power —Feminist View 71 Power as Consent 75

Authority 76Conclusion 78

Further Readings 80Endnote 81

4. State—Different Perspectives ...................................................... 82

State and Society Through Ages: Notion of Civil Society 84Law and the State 92Central Perspectives on the State 95

Liberal–Democratic State 96 Communitarian State 103 Libertarian State 104 Idealist/Organic State 105 Fascist State 109 Conservative State 110 Marxist State 112 Dictatorship of the Proletariat 113 Criticisms by the Anarchists and Social Democrats 116 The Leninist State 119 Debate on the Advanced Capitalist State 123 Anarchist State 125 Social Democratic State 128 Fabian State 130

Contents vii

Weber’s Analysis 130 Totalitarian State 131 Feminist Critique 133 Post Colonial State 134

Conclusion 134

Further Readings 135Endnotes 135

5. State—Origins and Developments .......................................... 137

Social Contract Theory 137Contract Doctrine in Modern Times 139Critics of the Contract Doctrine 144Evolutionary Theory 149Rise and Development of the Modern Nation State 151

Tribes without Rulers 151 Chiefdoms 152 City States 153 Empires 155 Feudalism 155 Polity of Estates 157 Absolutist States 158 Modern State 160

Marxism, Anarchism and the National Question 163Nation States in the Developing World 164Globalisation and the Future of the State 164

Further Readings 166Endnotes 166

6. Sovereignty .......................................................................................... 168

Legal or Monist Theory of Sovereignty of the State 170Criticisms of Austin’s Theory 178Pluralist Theory of Sovereignty 179Sovereignty and Globalisation 183Conclusion 184

Further Readings 184

7. Political Obligation .......................................................................... 185

Different Notions of Political Obligation 186

Unconditional Obligation 186 Conditional Obligation 187 Political Obligation to a Just Government 191 Political Obligation due to Self-interest and Gratitude 192

viii Contents

Political Obedience as Self-determinism 193Non-consensual Obligation 194

Unconditional Freedom from Obligation 195

Further Readings 195

8. Civil Disobedience ............................................................................ 197

Activist-Theoretician: Thoreau, Gandhi, King and Russell 200

Gandhi’s Views 203

Rawls’ Analysis 207Other Views 209

Further Readings 210

9. Citizenship ............................................................................................ 211

Citizenship Through the Ages 212

Citizenship and the City-state 212 Renaissance Republicanism 215

Marshall’s Analysis 216Critics of Marshall 219Cosmopolitan Citizenship 224Ideologies and Citizenship 227Citizenship and Education 232Differentiated Citizenship 233Conclusion 234

Further Readings 234Endnotes 235

10. Rights ....................................................................................................... 236

Theories Rights 239

Natural Rights Theory 239 Historical Theory 241 Legal Theory 244 Idealist View 246 Marxist Critique 247 Libertarian View 248 Rights and Community 248 Social Welfare Theory 250 Choice Theory 251 Interest Theory 252 Human Rights 252

Bases of Rights 253

Freedom and Rights 253

Contents ix

Equality and Rights 254 Autonomy and Rights 254

Is the Western Tradition Individualistic? 255Conclusion 256

Further Readings 257Endnotes 257

11. Liberty .................................................................................................... 258

Different Conceptions 258Notion of Free Will 261Different Ideologies and Freedom 262Negative and Positive Liberty 265Mill’s Analysis 269Berlin’s Analysis: Freedom And Pluralism 274Recent Conceptions: Raz and Rawls 280

Raz’s Conception 280 Rawls’ Conception 282

Further Readings 285Endnote 286

12. Justice ...................................................................................................... 287

Notions of Justice 287Ancient and Medieval Conceptions 291

Plato 291

Early Modern Conceptions 295Liberal Theory: The Utilitarian Tradition 296Liberal Theory: The Contractual Tradition 297

Critique of Utilitarianism 299 Contractual Tradition 301

Libertarian Theories of Justice 312Egalitarian Theory 317Communitarian Theories 320Socialist Conception 322Feminist Theories 324Subalternism 329Global Justice 329

Further Readings 331Endnotes 332

13. Equality .................................................................................................. 335

Types of Equality 335

Foundational Notion 336

Political Theory: Ideas And Concepts

Publisher : PHI Learning ISBN : 9788120350489Author : RAMASWAMY,SUSHILA

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