Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester Paper

1st Semester POL 01-01: Introduction to Political Theory (Core)

2nd Semester POL 02-01: Indian Govt. & Politics (Core)

3rd Semester POL 03-01: Perspectives on Public Administration (Core)
4th Semester POL 04-01: Understanding International Relations (Compulsory)
POL 04-02: Political Theory: Concepts and Debates (Compulsory)
POL 04-03: Political Processes in India (Compulsory)
POL 04-04: Public Policy and Administration in India (Compulsory)

5th Semester POL 05-01: Western Political Philosophy (Compulsory)

POL 05-02: Indian Political Thought (Compulsory)
POL 05-03a: United Nations and Global Conflict (Optional)
POL 05-03b: Optional Comparative Government and Politics
(Optional)
POL 05-04a: Introduction to India’s Foreign Policy (Optional)
POL 05-04b: Understanding South Asia (Optional)

6th Semester POL 06-01: Human Rights: Traditions and Debates (Compulsory)
POL 06-02: Feminism: Theory and Practice (Compulsory)
POL 06-03a: Politics in Northeast India (Optional)
POL 06-03b: Conflict and Peace Building (Optional)
POL 06-04a: Rural Local Governance: Theory & Practice (Optional)
POL 06-04b: Urban Local Governance: Theory & Practice (Optional)
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 1st Semester

Course Name: POL 01-01: Introduction to Political Theory (Core)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 100

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Barasa Deka, Gauhati University, barasajnu@gmail.com

Dr. Joanna Mahjebeen, Gauhati University, jmajebeen@gmail.com

Dr. Pallabi Medhi, Guwahati College, Guwahati, pallabiamal@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 This course aims to introduce the students to the idea of political theory, its history and
approaches, and an assessment of its critical and contemporary trends.
 It is also designed to introduce the basic concepts of political theory.
 The course also attempts reconcile political theory and practice through reflections on the
ideas and practices related to democracy.

Course Outcomes:

 After completing the course students will be better equipped to understand the key concepts
in political theory and various related conceptual categories.
 They will also be in a better position to engage in application of concepts and understand the
limitations.
  It will also help in developing critical thinking regarding the functioning of the political
system in relation to the context the students are situated in.
 The foundation for understanding the contemporary political developments would also be
laid down by the course.

Unit I: Understanding Political Theory

a. What is Politics?
b. What is Political Theory?
c. Relevance of political theory

Unit II: Approaches and Contemporary Perspectives on Political Theory

a. Liberal
b. Marxist
c. Feminist

Unit III: Concepts in Political Theory

a. State

b. Rights

c. Liberty

d. Equality

e. Justice

Unit IV: Understanding Democracy

a. Concept of Democracy

b. Types of democracy

c. Critique of democracy
Readings List:

Unit-I

Bellamy, R. (1993) ‘Introduction: The Demise and Rise of Political Theory’, in Bellamy, R. (ed.)
Theories and Concepts of Politics. New York: Manchester University Press, pp. 1-14.
Bhargava, R. (2008) ‘What is Political Theory’, in Bhargava, R and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political
Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 2-16.
Bharghava, R, ‘Why Do We Need Political Theory’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political
Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 17-36.

Mukherjee, S. and Ramaswami, S. (1999). What is Political Theory in Mukherjee, S. and

Ramaswami, S. A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx. New Delhi, Prentice Hall of India
Pvt. Ltd. Pp. 1-8

Mukhopadhyay, A.K. (2019), An Introduction to Political Theory, New Delhi: Sage Publications

Sabine, George H. (1939) What is A Political Theory? in the Journal of Politics, Vol. 1, No 1. Pp. 1-
16

Unit-II

Asirvatham, E & K.K. Misra (1998), Political Theory, Upper India Publishing, pp. 20-39.

Callinicos, A. (2004) “Marxism and Politics” in in Leftwich, A. (ed.) What is Politics? Cambridge,

Polity Press, pp.53-65

Corrin, Chris(1999), Feminist perspectives on Politics, Routledge, London and New York, pp. 1-18.

Gauba, O.P (2009), An Introduction to Political Theory, Macmillan Publishers India Ltd, pp. 80-93.

Glaser, D. (1995) ‘Normative Theory’, in Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (eds.) Theory and Methods in

Political Science. London: Macmillan, pp. 21-40.

Menon, N. (2008) ‘Gender’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 224-235.

Sanders, D. (1995) ‘Behavioral Analysis’, in Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (eds.) Theory and Methods in

Political Science.London: Macmillan, pp. 58-75.

Squires, J. (2004) ‘Politics Beyond Boundaries: A Feminist Perspective’ in Leftwich, A. (ed.) What

is Politics? Cambridge, Polity Press, pp. 119-134

Unit-III

Acharya, A. (2008) ‘Equality’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 58-73.

Das, S. (2008) ‘State’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An Introduction.

New Delhi:Pearson Longman, pp. 170-187.

Menon, K. (2008) Justice’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An Introduction.

New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 74-82.

Shorten, A. (2008) ‘Nation and State’, in McKinnon, C. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory, New York:

Oxford University Press, pp. 33-55.

Sriranjani, V. (2008) ‘Liberty’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction.New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 40-57.

Talukdar, P.S. (2008) ‘Rights’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 88-105.

Talukdar, P.S. (2008) ‘Rights’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 88-105.

Unit-IV

Acharya, A. (2008) ‘Affirmative Action’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory:

An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 298-307.

Arblaster, A. (1994) Democracy. (2nd Edition). Buckingham: Open University Press.

Christiano, Thomas. (2008) ‘Democracy’, in McKinnon, Catriona. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory,

New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 80-96.

Sen, A. (2003) ‘Freedom Favours Development,’ in Dahl, R., Shapiro, I. and Cheibub, A. J. (eds.)

The Democracy Sourcebook. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, pp. 444-446.

Sethi, A. (2008) ‘Freedom of Speech and the Question of Censorship’, in Bhargava, R. And

Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 308-319.

Srinivasan, J. (2008) ‘Democracy’, in Bhargava, R. and Acharya, A. (eds.) Political Theory: An

Introduction.New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 106-128.

Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 2nd Semester

Course Name: POL 02-01: Indian Government and Politics (Core)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 200

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Vikas Tripathi, Gauhati University, vikastripathi@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Sumana Das, B. Baruah College, Guwahati, sumana_ghy1@yahoo.com

Course Objectives:
 The paper aims at introducing students to the nature, emergence and functioning of the
Constitution of India.
 The paper seeks to impart learning on the significance of the idea of citizenship and rights
and how has constitution incorporated them and what does it reflect on the nature of Indian
constitution.
 The paper intends to make students understand the normative basis of key public institutions
in India and the nature of their functioning.
 The paper aims to explore the distinctiveness of Indian federalism and how does the
emergence of new institutions like NITI Aayog reflect on the changing character of
federalism in India.

Course Outcomes:
 Students will develop an understanding of the legacy of national movement and the
principles that shaped the formation and functioning of the Constituent Assembly of India.
 It will help in developing critical thinking about role of ideas and norms in shaping
democracy in India. It will make them understand what is constitution and how has the
working of contributed to the consolidation of democracy in India.
 Students will be able to make sense of the institutional design, challenges and resilience
marking key public institutions in India.
 The students will develop basic understanding on the constitutional provisions related to the
legislative procedures in Indian Parliament. It will enhance their understanding related to
the procedures, practices related to the passage of a bill from drafting to its passage by the
Parliament.
 It will help students in developing a nuanced understanding of the importance of states in
Indian politics and how the changing character of federalism in India made states the key
player.

Unit-I: Indian Constitution: Emergence and Distinctiveness

a. Constituent Assembly: Historical Backdrop and Formation
b. Basic Features of Indian Constitution
c. Amendment of Constitution: Nature and Procedure

Unit-II: Citizenship and Rights

a. Citizenship: Meaning and Provisions in the Constitution

b. Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties
c. Directive Principles of State Policy

Unit-III: Institutions

a. The Executive: President, Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Bureaucracy in
India
b. The Parliament: Composition, Legislative Procedure in Parliament, Question of Decline
c. The Judiciary: The Supreme Court, Appointment of Judges, Independence, Judicial
Activism
Unit-IV: Federalism and Local Government

a. Nature of Federal System: Constitutional Provisions, Distinctive Features, NITI Ayog and
Changing Character
b. Integration of Princely States in India,Union and Its Territory
c. Panchayati Raj Institutions in India: Emergence, Composition, Powers and Functions,
Actual Working

Reading List:

Unit-I

Austin, Granville. 1966. The Indian constitution: cornerstone of a nation. New Delhi: Oxford

University Press.

Austin, Granville. 1999. Working a democratic constitution: the Indian experience. New Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Bhargava, Rajeev. 2008. Politics and ethics of the Indian constitution. New Delhi: Oxford University

Press.

Bhatia, Gautam. 2019. The Transformative Constitution: a radical biography in nine acts. New Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Chaube, Shibani Kinkar. 2000. Constituent assembly of India: springboard of revolution. New Delhi:

Manohar Publishers & Distributors.

Choudhry, Sujit, Madhav Khosla & Pratap Bhanu Mehta.2016. The Oxford Handbook of the Indian

Constitution. New Delhi : Oxford University Press.

Hasan, Zoya, Eswaran Sridharan, and R. Sudarshan. 2004. India's living constitution: ideas,

practices,controversies. Delhi: Permanent Black.

Indian Politics, Contemporary Issues and concerns, M.P Singh and Rekha Saxena, PHI pvt. Ltd, New

Delhi, 2008

Khosla, Madhav. 2020. India's founding moment: the constitution of a most surprising

democracy.Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

Pylee, M V. 1967. Constitutional History of India. Bombay : Asia Publishing House

Unit-II

Austin, Granville. 1966. The Indian constitution: cornerstone of a nation. New Delhi:Oxford

University Press.

Basu, Durga Das. 2022. Introduction to the Constitution of India. New Delhi : Lexis Nexis

Bhargava, Rajeev. 2008. Politics and ethics of the Indian constitution. New Delhi: Oxford

UniversityPress.

Choudhry, Sujit, Madhav Khosla & Pratap Bhanu Mehta.2016. The Oxford Handbook of the Indian

Constitution. New Delhi : Oxford University Press

Khosla, Madhav. 2020. India's founding moment: the constitution of a most surprising

democracy.Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

Unit-III

Agrawal, Arun. 2005. “The Indian Parliament” in Devesh Kapur and Pratap Bhanu Mehta (ed.)

PublicInstitutions in India: Performance and Design, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 77-104.

Burra, Arudra. 2010. “The Indian Civil Service and the nationalist movement: neutrality, politics

andcontinuity”. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. 48 (4): 404-432.

Choudhry, Sujit, Madhav Khosla & Pratap Bhanu Mehta.2016. The Oxford Handbook of the Indian

Constitution. New Delhi : Oxford University Press

Das, SK. 2013. The Civil Services of India. New Delhi : Oxford University Press.

Hewitt, Vernon and Shirin M. Rai. 2010. “Parliament,” in Niraja Gopal Jayal and Pratap Bhanu

Mehta(ed.). The Oxford companion to politics in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp.28-

42.

M.P Singh and Rekha Saxena. 2008. Indian Politics: Contemporary Issues and concerns, New Delhi,

PHI Pvt. Ltd.

Khare, H. 2003. “Prime Minister and Parliament: Redefining accountability in the age of

coalitiongovernment,” in Ajay K. Mehra, and G.W. Kueck, (ed.). The Indian Parliament: A

Comparative Perspective. New Delhi: Konark, pp.350- 368.

Krishna, Anirudh. 2010. “Continuity and change: the Indian administrative service 30 years ago

andtoday”. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. 48 (4): 433-444.

Manor, James. 2015. “The Presidency,” in Devesh Kapur , Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Milan Vaishnav

(ed.). Rethinking Public Institutions in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Mehta, Pratap Bhanu. 2007. “The rise of judicial sovereignty,” Journal of Democracy 18 (2), pp.70-

83.

Saxena, N. C. 2010. “The IAS officer - predator or victim?” Commonwealth & Comparative

Politics.48 (4): 445-456.

Shankar, B. L., and Valerian Rodrigues. 2010. The Indian Parliament: a democracy at work.

Oxford:Oxford University Press.

Shankar, Shylashri. 2009. Scaling justice: India's Supreme Court, anti-terror laws, and social

rights.New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Verma, Rahul and Vikas Tripathi. 2013. Making Sense of the House: Explaining the Decline of

theIndian Parliament amidst Democratization, Studies in Indian Politics, 1(2), pp.153-177.

Unit-IV

Arora Balveer. 2015. “Foundations and Development of Indian Federalism: Lessons Learnt

andUnlearnt”, Yojana, pp. 22-26.

Arora, Balveer. et. al. 2013. “Indian federalism,” in K.C. Suri (ed.) ICSSR Research Surveys

andExplorations: Political Science: Indian Democracy, Volume 2. New Delhi: Oxford University

Press.

Indian Politics, Contemporary Issues and Concerns, M.P Singh and Rekha Saxena, PHI pvt. Ltd,

New Delhi, 2008.

Krishna, Anirudh. 2010. “Local Politics”, in: Mehta, Pratap B. and Niraja Gopal Jayal (eds.).The

Oxford Companion to Politics in India. New Delhi et al.: Oxford University Press, pp.299-316

Kumar, Rajiv. 2021. “NITI Aayog: Redefining Federalism”, Yojana, pp. 8-11.

Manor, James. 2010. “Local Governance”, in: Mehta, Pratap B. and Niraja Gopal Jayal (eds.).The

Oxford Companion to Politics in India. New Delhi et al.: Oxford University Press, pp.61-79.

Pehl Malte and Subtra Mitra. 2010. “Federalism”, in: Mehta, Pratap B. and Niraja Gopal Jayal

(eds.).The Oxford Companion to Politics in India. New Delhi et al.: Oxford University Press, pp.43-

60.

Rao, M Govind. 2016. Role and Functions of NITI Aayog, Economic and Political Weekly, pp. 13-

16, Vol. 50 No. 4

Tillin, Louise. 2019. Indian Federalism. (OSIIC) New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 3rd Semester

Course Name: POL 03-01: Perspectives on Public Administration (Core)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 300

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Gauhati University, jayanta1947@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Dhruba Pratim Sharma, Gauhati University, dhruba75@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Diganta Kalita, B. P. Chaliha College, Nagarbera, dkalita72@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The course seeks to provide an introduction to the discipline of Public Administration and its
significance in contemporary times.
 The course aims to encompass Public Administration in its historical context with an
emphasis on the various classical and contemporary administrative theories.
 The course intends to explore some of the recent trends including good governance, new
public management, feminism, ecological conservation and how the call for greater
democratization is restructuring public administration.
 The course attempts to provide the students a comprehensive understanding on contemporary
administrative developments.

Course Outcomes:

 Students will learn the basic concepts related to Public Administration and its significance
  Students will understand the major classical and contemporary administrative theories and
approaches and a critical thinking on them.
 It will help students to understand importance of personnel administration in an
administrative system and issues related to it including civil service neutrality and need, role
and independence of Public Service Commission.
 Students will develop basic understanding on recent debates in public administration.

Unit-I: Public Administration as a Discipline

a. Meaning, Dimensions and Significance

b. Public and Private Administration
c. Evolution of Public Administration

Unit-II: Theoretical Perspectives

a. Scientific Management (Frederick Winslow Taylor)

b. Administrative Management (Luther Gulick, Lyndall Urwick and Henri Fayol)
c. Ideal-Type Bureaucracy (Max Weber)
d. Human Relations Theory (George Elton Mayo)
e. Ecological Approach (Fred Warren Riggs)

Unit-III: Personnel Administration

a. Recruitment-Training-Promotion
b. Public Service Commission: Need, Role and Independence
c. Neutrality in the Public Service

Unit -IV: Major Approaches in Public Administration

a. New Public Service Approach

b. New Public Management
c. Good Governance
d. Feminist Perspective
Reading List:

Unit-I

Basu, Rumki, Public Administration: Concepts and Theories, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 2014

D. Rosenbloom, R. Kravchuk and R. Clerkin, (2009) Public Administration: Understanding

Management, Politics and Law in Public Sector, 7th Edition, New Delhi: McGraw Hill, pp.1-40

G. Alhson(1997): ‘Public and Private Management’, in Shafritz, J. and Hyde , A (eds) Classics of

Public Administration, 4th Edition. Forth Worth: Hartcourt Brace. TX. PP 510-529

M. Bhattacharya (2008) New Horizons of Public Administration, 5th Revised Edition. New Delhi:

Jawahar Publishers, pp 37-44

M. Bhattacharya , RestructuringPublic Administration: A New Look, New Delhi: Jawahar

Publishers, 2012

M. Bhattacharya, New Horizons of Public Administration, New Delhi: Jawahar Publishers, 2011

N. Henry, Public Administration and Public Affairs, 12th Edition, New Jersey: Pearson, 2013

Nicholas Henry, Public Administration and Public Affairs, Prentice Hall, 1999

P. Dunleavy and C. Hood, ‘From old Public Administration to New Public Management’, Public

Money and Management, VOL. XIV No 3, 1994

W.Wilson (2004) ‘The Study of Administration’, in B. Chakravarty and M. Bhattacharya (eds),

Administrative Change and Innovation : a Reader, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp.85-101.

Unit-II

A. Singh, Public Administration: Roots and Wings. New Delhi: Galgotia Publishing Company, 2002

B. Miner, ‘Elton Mayo and Hawthrone’, in Organisational Behaviour 3: Historical Origins and the

Future. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2006

D. Gvishiani, Organisation and Management, Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1972

D. Gvishiani, Organisation and Management, Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1972

D. Ravindra Prasad, Y. Pardhasaradhi, V. S. Prasad and P. Satyrnarayana, [eds.], Administrative

Thinkers, Sterling Publishers, 2010

E. J. Ferreira, A. W. Erasmus and D. Groenewald , Administrative Management, Juta Academics,

2010

F. Riggs, Administration in Developing Countries: The Theory of Prismatic Society. Boston:

Houghton Miffin, 1964

F. Taylor, ‘Scientific Management’, in J. Shafritz, and A. Hyde, (eds.) Classics of Public

Administration, 5th Edition. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004

M. Weber,‘Bureaucracy’, in C. Mills, and H. Gerth, From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. Oxford:

Oxford University Press, 1946

P. Mouzelis, ‘The Ideal Type of Bureaucracy’ in B. Chakrabarty, And M. Bhattacharya, (eds), Public

Administration: A Reader, New Delhi: Oxford University Press,2003

R. Arora, ‘Riggs’ Administrative Ecology’ in B. Chakrabarty and M. Bhattacharya (eds), Public

Administration: A reader, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2003

Warren. G.Bennis, Beyond Bureaucracy, Mc Graw Hill, 1973

Unit-III

Appleby, H Paul, ‘Public Administration in India’, Report of a survey, Manager of a publication,

Govt. of India, Delhi, 1953, p-12.

Article 319 of the Indian Constitution.

Articles 315 to 317 of the Indian Constitution.

Chopra, K. Rakesh, Management of Human Resources, V. K. Publishing House Barrelly, 1989, p-

10, 20.

First Report of UPSC, 1951, P-9.

Gladden, The Civil Service: Its Problems and Future, p-88, 180.
Goel, S. L., Personnel Administration and Management: Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1993 (ed)

p-7, 40, 105-111.

Journal of Public Administration, Vol-XXXI, 1153.

Jucious, M.J. Personnel Management, Richard Inco, Illinois, p-2.

Pfiffner, Public Administration, p-251.

Pigors, P, and Myres, C.A., Personnel Administration: McGraw Hill, Tokyo, 1961, p-1.

Rastogi, T. N. , Personnel Management, Perspecters and Techniques, Anand Publication Pvt. Ltd,

New Delhi, 1995, p-46, 54, 137.

Refurbishing of Personnel Administration - Scaling New Heights.

Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Services, 1929-31, pp, 6-69.

Tenth Reports of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (Relevant Portions)

https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/personnel_administration10.pdf.

The Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal), Rules. Nos 38, 39, 42 and 44.

Tickner, E. J., Modern Staff Training, p-9.

Unit-IV

A. Gray, and B. Jenkins, ‘From Public Administration to Public Management’ in E. Otenyo and N.

Lind, (eds.) Comparative Public Administration: The Essential Readings: Oxford University Press,

1997.

A. Leftwich, ‘Governance in the State and the Politics of Development’, in Development and

Change. Vol. 25, 1994.

B. Chakrabarty, Reinventing Public Administration: The India Experience. New Delhi: Orient

Longman, 2007.

Basu, Rumki, Public Administration in the 21st Century: A Global South Perspective , Taylor and

Franchis, 2019.
C. Hood, ‘A Public Management for All Seasons’, in J. Shafritz, & A. Hyde, (eds.) Classics of Public

Administration, 5th Edition, Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004.

F. Riggs,The Ecology of Public Administration, Part 3, New Delhi: Asia Publishing House, 1961.

H. Frederickson, ‘Toward a New Public Administration’, in J. Shafritz, & A. Hyde, (eds.) Classics

of Public Administration, 5th Edition, Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004.

M. Bhattacharya, ‘Chapter 2 and 4’, in Social Theory, Development Administration and Development

Ethics, New Delhi: Jawahar Publishers, 2006.

M. Bhattacharya, ‘Contextualizing Governance and Development’ in B. Chakrabarty and M.

Bhattacharya, (eds.) The Governance Discourse. New Delhi: Oxford University Press,1998.

M. Bhattacharya, Public Administration: Issues and Perspectives, New Delhi: Jawahar Publishers,

2012.

R. B. Denhart& J. V. Denhart [Arizona State University] “ The New Public Service: Serving Rathet

Than Steering”, in Public Administration Review ,Volume 60, No-6,November-December 2000.

Singh, Shivani. (2016), Governance: Issues and Challenges, New Delhi, Sage Publications.

Stivers, Camilla, ‘Feminist Theory of Public Administration’ in Defining Public Administration,

eBook ISBN-9780429501074, 2000.

U. Medury, Public administration in the Globalisation Era, New Delhi: Orient Black Swan, 2010.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 4th Semester

Course Name: POL 04-01: Understanding International Relations (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 400

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Shubhrajeet Konwer, Gauhati University, sk489@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Rubul Patgiri, Gauhati University, rubulpatgiri@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Anubhav Sarma, Damdama College, Kulhati, anubhabsarmah1988@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The course aims to introduce the students to the basic understanding of international relations.
 To the growing linkages and interactions between domestic and international issues under the
evolving process of globalization imperative for knowing and understanding global politics
is increasingly being felt.
 The course is designed to equip the students with theoretical, historical and conceptual
insights to understand the evolving dynamics of international relations.

Course Outcomes:

 To make students understand the key theoretical approaches in international relations

 To familiarize students with the history of evolution of international relations in the twentieth
century
 To enable students to comprehend the nature of global economy.
 To demonstrate the basic knowledge of some of the contemporary global issues.
Unit-I: Theoretical Perspectives

a. Classical Realism and Neo-Realism

b. Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism
c. Marxist Approaches
d. Feminist Perspective

Unit-II: An Overview of Twentieth Century IR History-World War II onwards

a. World War II: Causes and Consequences

b. Origin, Evolution and End of the Cold War
c. Post Cold War Era and Emerging Centres of Power

Unit-III: The Global Economy

a. Global economic order and the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF, WB and WTO)
b. Neoliberal Economic Policies-Economic Globalization and TNCs
c. Regionalism and Regional Economic Groupings-ASEAN and European Union
d. Emerging Multilateralism-G20 and BRICS

Unit-IV: Contemporary Global Issues

a. Ecological Issues
b. International Terrorism
c. Human Security
d. Migration

Reading List:

Unit-I

A. Frank, (1966) ‘The Development of Underdevelopment’ Monthly Review, pp. 17-30.

E. Carr, (1981) The Twenty Years Crisis, 1919-1939: An Introduction to the Study of International
Relations, London: Macmillan, pp. 63-94.
F. Halliday, (1994) Rethinking International Relations, London: Macmillan, pp. 147-166.
H. Bull, (2000) ‘The Balance of Power and International Order’, in M. Smith and R. Little (eds),
Perspectives on World Politics, New York: Routledge, pp. 115-124.
H. Morgenthau, (2007) ‘Six Principles of Political Realism’, in R. Art and R. Jervis, International
Politics, 8th Edition, New York: Pearson Longman, pp. 7-14
I. Wallerstein, (2000) ‘The Rise and Future Demise of World Capitalist System: Concepts for
Comparative Analysis’, in Michael Smith and Richard Little (eds), Perspectives on World Politics,
New York: Routledge, pp. 305-317.
J. Galtung, (2000) ‘A Structural Theory of Imperialism’, in M. Smith and R. Little, (eds),
Perspectives on World Politics, New York: Routledge, pp. 292-304.
J. Goldstein and J. Pevehouse, (2007) International Relations, New York: Pearson Longman, pp.
127-137. R. Jackson and G. Sorensen, (2007) Introduction to International Relations: Theories and
Approaches, 3rd Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 97-128.
J. Goldstein and J. Pevehouse, (2007) International Relations, New York: Pearson Longman, pp.
494-496; 500-503.
J. Goldstein and J. Pevehouse, (2007) International Relations, New York: Pearson Longman, pp.
138-148.
J. Goldstein and J. Pevehouse, (2007) International Relations, New York: Pearson Longman,
J. Tickner, (2007) ‘A Critique of Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism’, in R. Art and R.
Jervis, International Politics, 8th Edition, New York: Pearson Longman, pp. 15-28.
K. Waltz, (2007) ‘The Anarchic Structure of World Politics’, in R. Art and R. Jervis, International
Politics, 8th Edition, New York: Pearson Longman, pp. 29-49.
M. Nicholson, (2002) International Relations: A Concise Introduction, New York: Palgrave, pp. 6-
7.
M. Nicholson, International Relations: A Concise Introduction, New York: Palgrave, 2002, pp.
120-122.
M. Nicholson, International Relations: A Concise Introduction, New York: Palgrave, 2002, pp.
Modern History Sourcebook: Summary of Wallerstein on World System Theory, Available at
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/Wallerstein.asp, Accessed: 19.04.2013
New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 142-149; 155-158.
P. Viotti and M. Kauppi (2007), International Relations and World Politics: Security, Economy,
Identity, Pearson Education, pp. 40-85.
R. Keohane and J. Nye, (2000) ‘Transgovernmental Relations and the International Organization’,
in M. Smith and R. Little (eds.), Perspectives on World Politics, New York: Routledge, pp. 229-
241.
Rumki Basu, (ed)(2012) International Politics: Concepts, Theories and Issues New Delhi, Sage.
S. Hobden and R. Jones, (2008) ‘Marxist Theories of International Relations’ in J. Baylis and
S. Smith (eds), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations,
S. Smith and P. Owens, (2008) ‘Alternative Approaches to International Theory’ in J. Baylis and S.
Smith (eds), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, New
York: Oxford University Press, pp. 181-184.
S. Smith and P. Owens, (2008) ‘Alternative Approaches to International Theory’ in J. Baylis
T. Dunne and B. Scmidt, (2008) ‘Realism’, in J. Baylis and S. Smith (eds), The Globalization of
World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, New York: Oxford University Press, pp.
90-107.
T. Dunne, (2008) ‘Liberalism’, in J. Baylis and S. Smith (eds.), The Globalization of World
Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 108-
123.

Unit-II

Brezeznski, Z. (2005) Choice: Global Dominance or Global Leadership. New York: Basic Books,
pp. 85-127.34
Carrtuthers, S.L. (2005) ‘International History, 1900-1945’ in Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) (2008)
The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations.4th edn. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, pp. 76-84.
Calvocoressi, P. (2001) World Politics: 1945—2000. Essex: Pearson, pp. 3-91.
Gill, S. (2005) ‘Contradictions of US Supremacy’ in Panitch, L. and Leys, C. (eds.) Socialist
Register: The Empire Reloaded. London: Merlin Press. 2004, London, Merlin Press and New
York, Monthly Review Press. Socialist Register, pp.24-47.
Hobsbawm, E. (1995) Age of Extreme: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914—1991. London:
Abacus, pp. 225-226.
Scott, L. (2005) ‘International History, 1945-1990’ in Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) (2008) The
Globalization of World Politics An Introduction to International Relations.4th edn. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, pp. 93-101.
Taylor, A.J.P. (1961) The Origins of the Second World War. Harmondsworth: Penguin, pp.29-65.
Therborn, G. (2006) ‘Poles and Triangles: US Power and Triangles of Americas, Asia and Europe’
in Hadiz, V.R. (ed.) Empire and Neo Liberalism in Asia. London: Routledge, pp.23-37.
Unit-III

A. Heywood, (2011) Global Politics, New York: Palgrave-McMillan, pp. 454-479.

A. Narlikar, (2005) The World Trade Organization: A Very Short Introduction, New York:
Oxford University Press, pp. 22-98.
Chatterjee, Aneek. International Relations Today: Concepts and Application. Pearson
Crane, Robert (ed.). Building bridges among the BRICS
Dattagupta, Rupak. Global Politics. Pearson
J. Goldstein, (2006) International Relations, New Delhi: Pearson, pp. 392-405 (MNC).
J. Goldstein, (2006) International Relations, New Delhi: Pearson, pp. 327-368, 392-405 (MNC).
Andrew Heywood, (2015) Global Politics London: Palgrave, pp.466-486.
Kripalini, Manjeet. India in the G20: Rule taker to Rule maker. Routledge
Larionova, Marina and Kirton, John (eds.). BRICS and Global Governance. Routledge
Gilpin, R. (2003) Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order.
Hyderabad: Orient Longman, pp. 278- 304.
John Stopford, Multinational Corporations, Foreign Policy, Fall, 1998
Oliver Stuenkel, (2020). The BRICS and Future of Global Order, London: Lexinton Books.
P. Hirst, G. Thompson and S. Bromley, (2009) Globalization in Question, Cambridge: Polity Press,
pp. 68-100 (MNC).
Pero, Siti Darwinda Mohamed. Leadership in Regional Community Building: Comparing ASEAN
and the European Union. Palgrave Macmillan
R. Mansbach and K. Taylor, (2012) ‘International Political Economy’, Introduction to Global
Politics, 2nd Edition, New York: Routledge, pp. 470-478.
R. Picciotto, (2003) ‘A New World Bank for a New Century’, in C. Roe Goddard et al.,
International Political: State-Market Relations in a Changing Global Order, Boulder: Lynne
Reinner, pp. 341-351.
T. Cohn, (2009) Global Political Economy: Theory and Practice, pp. 130-140 (IMF), 208-218
(WTO).
V.Peterson, (2009) ‘How Is The World Organized Economically?’, in J. Edkins and M. Zehfuss
(eds.) Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, pp. 271- 293.

Unit-IV

A. Acharya, (2011) ‘Human Security’, in J. Baylis, S. Smith and P. Owens (eds.) Globalization of
World Politics, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 480-493.
A. Acharya, (2001) ‘Human Security: East versus West’, in International Journal, Vol. 56, no. 3,
pp. 442-460.
A.Heywood, (2011) Global Politics, New York: Palgrave, pp. 282-301.
A.Heywood, (2011) Global Politics, New York: Palgrave, pp. 383-411.
A. Vanaik, (2007) Masks of Empire, New Delhi: Tulika, pp. 103-128.
Jindal, N. & Kumar, K. (2018), Global Politics: Issues and Perspectives, New Delhi, Sage
Publications
J. Kiras, (2011) ‘Terrorism and Globalization’, in J. Baylis, S. Smith and P. Owens (eds.)
Globalization of World Politics, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 366-380.
J. Volger, (2011) ‘Environmental Issues’, in J. Baylis, S. Smith and P. Owens (eds.) Globalization
of World Politics, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 348-362.
K. Shimko, (2005) International Relations Perspectives and Controversies, New York: Hughton-
Mifflin, pp. 317-339.
P. Bidwai, (2011) ‘Durban: Road to Nowhere’, in Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.46, No. 53,
December, pp. 10-12.
P. Viotti and M. Kauppi, (2007) International Relations, New Delhi: Pearson, pp. 276-307.
N. Carter, (2007) The Politics of Environment: Ideas, Activism, Policy, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, pp. 13-81.
S. Tadjbakhsh and A. Chenoy, (2007) Human Security, London: Routledge, pp. 13-19; 123-127;
236-243
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 4th Semester

Course Name: POL 04-02: Political Theory: Concepts and Debates (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 400

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Gauhati University, akhilranjan@gauhati.ac.in

Ms. Bondita Borbora, Dudhnoi College, Dudhnoi, bonditaborbora@gmail.com

Course Objectives:
 Help the students familiarize with the basic normative concepts of political theory. Each
concept is related to a crucial political issue that requires analysis with the aid of our
conceptual understanding.
 Encourage critical and reflective analysis and interpretation of social practices through the
relevant conceptual toolkit.
 Introduce the students to the important debates in the subject. These debates prompt us to
consider that there is no settled way of understanding concepts and that in the light of new
insights and challenges, besides newer ways of perceiving and interpreting the world around
us, we inaugurate new modes of political debates.

Course Outcomes:
 Understand the dimensions of shared living through these political values and concepts.
 Appreciate how these values and concepts enrich the discourses of political life, sharpening
their analytical skills in the process.
 Reflect upon some of the important debates in political theory.
  Develop critical thinking and the ability to make logical inferences about socio-economic and
political issues, on the basis of comparative and contemporary political discourses in India.

Unit-I: Freedom and Equality

a. Freedom: Lockean notion of Negative Freedom & Amartya Sen’s notion of Development as
Freedom

b. Equality: Procedural Equality and Substantive Equality

c. Egalitarianism: Background inequalities and differential treatment

Unit-II: Justice

a. Distributive Justice: John Rawls

b. Libertarian theories of Justice: F. A. Hayek
c. Global Justice

Unit-III: Rights and Obligation

a. The Universality of Rights and Differentiated Rights

b. Rights, Obligation and Civil Disobedience
c. Theories of Political Obligation: Conservatism, Consent Theory, Anarchism

Unit-IV: Major Debates

a. Whatever happens to nation-state? Sovereignty under Globalization.

b. How do we accommodate diversity in plural society? Diversity and Multiculturalism.
c. How do we deal with the climate changes? Ecological Rights as human rights

Reading List:

Unit-I

Acharya, Ashok. (2008) ‘Affirmative Action’, in Bhargava, Rajeev and Acharya, Ashok. (eds.)
Political Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 298-307.

Andrew Heywood (1994) Political Theory. London: Palgrave Macmillan, PP. 253-258, 284-294
Carter, Ian. (2003) ‘Liberty’, in Bellamy, Richard and Mason, Andrew (eds.). Political Concepts.
Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 4-15.
Casal, Paula & William, Andrew.(2008) ‘Equality’, in McKinnon, Catriona. (ed.) Issues in
Political Theory. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 149- 165.

Knowles, Dudley. (2001) Political Philosophy. London: Routledge, pp. 69- 132.
Riley, Jonathan. (2008) ‘Liberty’ in Mckinnon, Catriona (ed.) Issues in Political Theory, New
York: Oxford University Press, pp. 103-119.
Swift, Adam. (2001) Political Philosophy: A Beginners Guide for Student’s and Politicians.
Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 51-88, 91-132.

V. Sriranjani (2008) ‘Liberty’, in Bhargava, Rajeev and Acharya, Ashok. (eds.) Political Theory:
An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 41-57.

Unit-II

Bedau, Hugo Adam. (2003) ‘Capital Punishment’, in LaFollette, Hugh (ed.). The Oxford
Handbook of Practical Ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 705-733.

Dutta, Akhil Ranjan. (ed.) (2011) “Political Theory-Issues, Concepts and Debates” Arun
Prakashan, Panbazar, Guwahati.
Menon, Krishna. (2008) ‘Justice’, in Bhargava, Rajeev and Acharya, Ashok. (eds.) Political

Theory: An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 74-86.

Wolf, Jonathan. (2008) ‘Social Justice’, in McKinnon, Catriona. (ed.) Issues in Political

Theory.New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 172-187.

Swift, Adam. (2001) Political Philosophy: A Beginners Guide for Student’s and Politicians.

Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 9-48.

Knowles, Dudley. (2001) Political Philosophy.London: Routledge, pp. 177-238.

McKinnon, Catriona. (ed.) (2008) Issues in Political Theory.New York: Oxford University Press,
pp. 289-305.

Unit-III
Seglow, Jonathan. (2003) ‘Multiculturalism’ in Bellamy, Richard and Mason, Andrew (eds.).
Political Concepts. Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 156-168.

Tulkdar, P.S. (2008) ‘Rights’ in Bhargava, Rajeev and Acharya, Ashok. (eds.) Political Theory:
 An Introduction. New Delhi: Pearson Longman, pp. 88-104.

McKinnon, Catriona. (2003) ‘Rights’, in Bellamy, Richard and Mason, Andrew. (eds.)

Young, Iris M. 1989. ‘Polity and Group Difference: A Critique of the Ideal of Universal
Citizenship’ Ethics, No.2 pp.250-274

Unit-IV
Hyums, Keith. (2008) ‘Political Authority and Obligation’, in Mckinnon, Catriona. (ed.) Issues
in Political Theory, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 9-26

Martin, Rex. (2003) ‘Political Obligation’, in Bellamy, Richard and Mason, Andrew. (eds.)

Political Concepts, Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 41-51.

Gutmann, Amy. ‘Multiculturalism and “The Politics of Recognition”: Essays by Charles Taylor.
Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Kymlicka, Will.1995.Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford:

Clarendon Press.

Kymlicka, Will.2002. Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. New York: Oxford

University Press. (pp.327-377)

Mahajan, Gurpreet(ed.).1999. Democracy, Difference and Social Justice. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press

Mahajan, Gurpreet.2002. The Multicultural Path: Issues of Diversity and Discrimination in

Democracy. New Delhi: Sage. .(pp.85-123)

Parekh, Bhiku.1999. ‘Cultural Diversity and Liberal Democracy’ in Gurpreet Mahajan (ed.)
Democracy, Difference and Social Justice. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Raz, Joseph. 1989. ‘Multiculturalism: A Liberal Perspective’ Dissent, winter pp.67-69

Taylor, Charles.1994.’ The Politics of Recognition’ in Amy Gutmann (ed.) Multiculturalism and
the Politics of Recognition. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Mookherjee, Monica, ‘Multiculturalism’, in Mckinnon, Catriona. (ed.) Issues in Political Theory.

New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 218- 234.
 Seglow, Jonathan, ‘Multiculturalism’, in Bellamy, Richard and Mason, Andrew. (eds.) Political
Concepts, Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 156-168

M. Shamsul Haque, ‘Environmental Discourse and Sustainable Development: Linkages and

Limitations’, Ethics and the Environment, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2000), pp. 3-21

Guha. Ramachandra (ed) Social Ecology, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1990
Four Year Undergraduate Programme
Subject: Political Science

Semester: 4th Semester

Course Name: POL 04-03: Political Processes in India (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 400

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Vikas Tripathi, Gauhati University, vikastripathi@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Dhruba Pratim Sharma, Gauhati University, dhruba75@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Dadul Dewri, Pub-Kamrup College, Baihata, daduldewri79@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 An understanding of the political process thus calls for a different mode of analysis that is
offered by political sociology.
 This course maps the working of ‘modern’ institutions, premised on the existence of an
individual society, in a context marked by communitarian solidarities and their mutual
transformation thereby.
 It also familiarizes students with the working of the Indian State, paying attention to the
contradictory dynamics of modern state power.

Course Outcomes:
  This Course is helpful in making students familiar with the significant political processes
shaping Indian Politics in last seven decades.
 As such, the paper would help the students to know in detail about electoral processes and
trends, party system in India, dynamics of Indian politics including regionalism, caste and
religion as well as the changing nature of the Indian State.
 Their engagement with the selected scholarly articles included in the reading list will
essentially orient them towards the larger intellectual and research tradition on issues of
Indian politics.
 The paper will be helpful in terms of competitive examinations including NET/JRF, SLET
as well as research in the field of Indian Politics.

Unit-I: Electoral Process in India

a. Election Process: First Past the Post System, Proportional Representation System
b. Representation of the People Act,1951
c. Election Commission of India and Electoral Reforms

Unit-II: Party System

a. National and State Party

b. Trends in the Party System
c. Voting Behaviour, Determinants of Voting Behaviour

Unit-III: Dynamics of Indian Politics

a. Regionalism and Secessionism

b. Caste and Politics
c. Religion and Politics, Debates on Secularism

Unit-IV: Changing Nature of Indian State

a. Developmental, Welfare and Coercive Dimensions

b. Affirmative Action Policies
 c. Development and Displacement Debate

Reading List:

Unit-I

A. Heywood, (2002) ‘Representation, Electoral and Voting’, in Politics, New York;

Palgrave pp. 223-245
A. Evans, (2009) ‘Elections System’, in J. Bara and M. Pennington, (eds.) Comparative
Politics, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 93-119
https://eci.gov.in/files/file/9315-the-representation-of-people-act-1951/
E. Sridhar and M. Vaishnav, (2017) ‘Election Commission of India’, in D. Kapur, P B
Mehta and M Vaishnav, (eds.) Rethinking Public Institutions in India, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, pp. 417-463.
Lok Sabha Secretariate, (2020) ‘Electoral Reforms in India: Reference Note’
https://loksabhadocs.nic.in/Refinput/New_Reference_Notes/English/04022020_105450_
102120474.pdf
P.B. Mehta. 2001. “Is Electoral and Institutional Reform the Answer?”, Seminar, 506
https://www.indiaseminar.com/2001/506/506%20pratap%20bhanu%20mehta.htm
U.K. Singh and A. Roy, (2019) ‘Introduction’ in Election Commission of India:
Institutionalising Democratic Uncertainties, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Unit-II

A. H. Schakel, C. K. Sharma & W. Swenden, (2019). India after the 2014 general elections: BJP
dominance and the crisis of the third-party system, Regional & Federal Studies, 29 (3), 329-354.
C. Jaffrelot, (2008) ‘Why Should We Vote? The Indian Middle Class and the Functioning of
World’s Largest Democracy’, in Religion, Caste and Politics in India, Delhi: Primus, pp. 604-
619

E. Sridharan, (2012) ‘Introduction: Theorizing Democratic Consoloidation, Parties and

Coalitions’, in Coalition Politics and Democratic Consolidation in Asia, New Delhi: Oxford
University Press.

R. Kothari, (2002) ‘The Congress System’, in Z. Hasan (ed.) Parties and Party Politics in India,
New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 39-55.

P. Chibberand R. Verma, (2019). ‘The Rise of the Second Dominant Party System in India: BJP’s
New Social Coalition in 2019’, Studies in Indian Politics, 7(2), 131-148.
Y. Yadav, (2000) ‘Understanding the Second Democratic Upsurge’ in F. Frankel, Z. Hasan and
R. Bhargava (eds.) Transforming India: Social and Political Dynamics in Democracy, New
Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 120-145

Y. Yadav and S. Palshikar, (2006). ‘Party System and Electoral Politics in the Indian States, 1952-
2002: From hegemony to convergence.’ India’s Political Parties 6, 73-116.
Y. Yadav (1999). Electoral Politics in the Time of Change: India’s Third Electoral System, 1989-
1999. Economic and Political Weekly, 34 (35), 2393-2399.
Y. Yadav, (200) ‘Understanding the Second Democratic Upsurge’, in F. Frankel, Z. Hasan and R.
Bhargava (eds.) Transforming India; Social and political Dynamics in Democracy, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, pp. 120-145

Unit-III

Narain Iqbal. 1976. “Cultural Pluralism, National Integration and Democracy in India”, Asian
Survey, 16(10), October, 903-17
Baruah, Sanjib. 2010. “Regionalism and Secessionism”, in Jayal and Mehta (eds). The Oxford
Companion to Politics in India. pp 181-92
M. Chadda, (2010) ‘Integration through Internal Reorganization’, in S. Baruah (ed.)
Ethnonationalism in India: A Reader, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 379-402
P. Brass, (1999) ‘Crisis of National Unity: Punjab, the Northeast and Kashmir’, in The Politics of
India Since Independence, New Delhi: Cambridge University Press and Foundation Books,
pp.192-227.
M. Weiner, (2001) ‘The Struggle for Equality: Caste in Indian Politics’, in Atul Kohli (ed.) The
Success of India’s Democracy, New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, pp. 193-225.
N. Chandhoke, (2010) ‘Secularism’, in P. Mehta and N. Jayal (eds.) The Oxford Companion to
Politics in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 333-346.
R. Kothari, (1970) ‘Introduction’, in Caste in Indian Politics, Delhi: Orient Longman, pp. 3-25
T. Pantham, (2004) ‘Understanding Indian Secularism: Learning from its Recent Critics’, in R.
Vora and S. Palshikar (eds.) Indian Democracy: Meanings and Practices, New Delhi: Sage pp.
235-256

Unit-IV

Ashok Acharya. (2008). Affirmative Action. In Rajeev Bhargava & Ashok Acharya (Eds.),
Political theory:An introduction, Delhi: Pearson, pp.
Ashwini Deshpande. 2008. ‘Quest for Equality: Affirmative Action in India’, Indian Journal of
Industrial Relations, 44 (2).

A Verma, (2007) ‘Police Agencies and Coercive Power’, in S. Ganguly, L. Diamond and M.
Plattner (eds.) The State of India’s Democracy, Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, pp.
130-139.

Bina Agarwal. (1997). ‘Bargaining and Gender Relations: Within and Beyond the Household’,
Feminist Economics, 3 (1).

Chandra, Kanchan. 2007. “Counting heads: a theory of voter and elite behavior in patronage
democracies”, in Herbert Kitschelt and Steven Wilkinson, (eds.) Patrons, Clients and Policies:
Patterns of Democratic Accountability and Political Competition, Cambridge University Press:
Cambridge, 84-140
Kohli Atul. 2006 “Politics of Economic Growth in India1980-2005: Part I”, Economic and
Political Weekly, 41(13), April 1, pp.1251-59.

Kohli, Atul. 2006 “Politics of Economic Growth in India1980-2005: Part II”, Economic and
Political Weekly, 41(14), April 8, pp.1361-70.

S. Palshikar, (2008) ‘The Indian State: Constitution and Beyond’, in R. Bhargava (ed.) Politics
and Ethics of the Indian Constitution, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 143-163.
T. Byres, (1994) ‘Introduction: Development Planning and the Interventionist State Versus
Liberalisation and the Neo-Liberal State: India, 1989-1996’, in T. Byres (ed.) The State
Development Planning and Liberalisation in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994,
pp.1-35
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 4th Semester

Course Name: POL 04-04: Public Policy and Administration in India (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 400

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Alaka Sarmah, Gauhati University, alakasarmah63@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Gauhati University, jayanta1947@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Diganta Kalita, B. P. Chaliha College, Nagarbera, dkalita72@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The course seeks to provide an introduction to the discipline of public policy and its
significance in contemporary times.
 The course seeks to explain the various aspects of public financial administration.
 The course seeks to provide an introduction to the interface between public policy and
administration in India
 The course attempts to provide the students a comprehensive understanding on social
welfare administration.

Course Outcomes:
  The students will understand the basic concept of public policy, policy analysis , public
policy process and governance.The students also get the knowledge of different stages of
public policy in terms of theoretical formulation.
 The student will learn about the principles of financial management, which are necessary
for the examination purpose.
 Students will develop basic understanding on the best practices in public administration
such as RTI, e-Governance etc
 The student will learn about the various welfare policies and the role of governance in it.

Unit -I: Public Policy

a. Concept, Relevance and Approaches

b. Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation
c. Public Policy Process in India

Unit-II: Financial Administration

a. Concept and Significance of Budget

b. Various Approaches and Types of Budgeting
c. Budget cycle in India

Unit -III: Citizen and Administration Interface

a. Public Service Delivery

b. Redressal of Public Grievances: Lokpal
c. Citizens’ Charter

Unit-IV: Social Welfare Administration

a. Concept and Approaches of Social Welfare

b. Social Welfare Policies
 Education: Right to Education
 Health: National Health Mission
  Food: Right to Food Security
 Employment: MNREGA

Reading List:

Unit-I

Chakrabarty, B. & Chand, P. (2016), Public Policy: Concepts, Theory and Practice, New Delhi:
Sage Publications
J. Anderson, (1975) Public Policy Making. New York: Thomas Nelson and sons Ltd.
M. Howlett, M. Ramesh, and A. Perl, (2009), Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy
subsystems, 3rd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Mary Jo Hatch and Ann .L. Cunliffe Organisation Theory :Modern, Symbolicand Postmodern
Perspectives, Oxford University Press,2006
Michael Howlett, Designing Public Policies : Principles And Instruments, Rutledge, 2011 The
Oxford Handbook Of Public Policy, Oxford University Press, 2006
Prabir Kumar De, Public Policy and Systems, Pearson Education, 2012
R.B. Denhardt and J.V. Denhardt, (2009) Public Administration, New Delhi: Brooks/Cole
R.V. Vaidyanatha Ayyar, Public Policy Making In India, Pearson,2009
Surendra Munshi and Biju Paul Abraham [Eds.] Good Governance, Democratic Societies and
Globalisation, Sage Publishers, 2004
T. Dye, (1984) Understanding Public Policy, 5th Edition. U.S.A: Prentice Hall, pp. 1-44 The
Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, OUP, 2006
T. Dye, (2002) Understanding Public Policy, New Delhi: Pearson
Xun Wu, M.Ramesh, Michael Howlett and Scott Fritzen , The Public Policy Primer: Managing
The Policy Process, Rutledge, 2010
Y. Dror, (1989) Public Policy Making Reexamined. Oxford: Transaction Publication

Unit-II

Caiden, N.(2004) ‘ Public Budgeting Amidst Uncertainity and Instability’, in Shafritz, J.M. &
Erik-Lane, J. (2005) Public Administration and Public Management: The Principal Agent
Perspective. New York: Routledge
Henry, N.(1999) Public Administration and Public Affairs. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Hyde, A.C. (eds.) Classics of Public Administration. Belmont: Wadsworth

Unit-III

Jenkins, R. and Goetz, A.M. (1999) ‘Accounts and Accountability: Theoretical Implications of the
Right to Information Movement in India’, in Third World Quarterly. June
M.J.Moon, The Evolution of Electronic Government Among Municipalities: Rheoteric or Reality,
American Society For Public Administration, Public Administration Review, Vol 62, Issue 4, July
–August 2002
Mukhopadyay, A. (2005) ‘Social Audit’, in Seminar. No.551. 37
Pankaj Sharma, E-Governance: The New Age Governance, APH Publishers, 2004
Pippa Norris, Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty and the Internet in
Democratic Societies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
R. Putnam, Making Democracy Work, Princeton University Press, 1993
Sharma, P.K. &Devasher, M. (2007) ‘Right to Information in India’ in Singh, S. and Sharma, P.
(eds.) Decentralization: Institutions and Politics in Rural India. New Delhi: Oxford University
Press
Stephan Goldsmith and William D. Eggers, Governing By Network: The New Shape of the Public
Sector, Brookings Institution [Washington], 2004
United Nation Development Programme, Reconceptualising Governance, New York, 1997
Vasu Deva, E-Governance In India: A Reality, Commonwealth Publishers, 2005
World Development Report, World Bank, Oxford University Press, 1992.

Unit-IV

Basu Rumki (2015) Public Administration in India Mandates, Performance and Future
Perspectives, New Delhi, Sterling Publishers
http://www.cefsindia.org
J.Dreze and Amartya Sen, Indian Development: Selected Regional Perspectives, Oxford:
Clareland Press, 1997
Jean Drèze and Amartya Sen, India, Economic Development and Social Opportunity, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1995
Jugal Kishore, National Health Programs of India: National Policies and Legislations, Century
Publications, 2005
K. Lee and Mills, The Economic Of Health In Developing Countries, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1983
K. Vijaya Kumar, Right to Education Act 2009: Its Implementation as to Social Development in
India, Delhi: Akansha Publishers, 2012.
Marma Mukhopadhyay and Madhu Parhar(ed.) Education in India: Dynamics of Development,
Delhi: Shipra Publications, 2007
Nalini Juneja, Primary Education for All in the City of Mumbai: The Challenge Set By Local
Actors', International Institute For Educational Planning, UNESCO: Paris, 2001
National Food Security Mission: nfsm.gov.in/Guidelines/XIIPlan/NFSMXII.pdf
Pradeep Chaturvedi [ed.], Women And Food Security: Role of Panchayats, Concept Publishers,
1997
Reetika Khera- Rural Poverty And Public Distribution System, EPW, Vol-XLVIII, No.45-46, Nov
2013
Surendra Munshi and Biju Paul Abraham [eds.] Good Governance, Democratic Societies and
Globalisation, Sage Publishers, 2004
www.righttofoodindia.org
www.un.org/millenniumgoals
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-01: Western Political Philosophy (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Barasa Deka, Gauhati University, barasa@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Barnali Deka, Mangaldai College, dekabarnali067@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 This course attempts to introduce the close interconnectedness of philosophy and politics.

 It is attempted at taking the students through the history of western political thought in
various periods of its development.

 This course also attempts to explore the political questions of different periods and their
relevance in analysing the contemporary political developments.

Course Outcomes:

 It will help the students in understanding the interconnectedness of philosophy and politics
and interpret ideas underlying traditions in political philosophy
 It will help to analyze the debates and arguments of leading political philosophers
belonging to different traditions.
  The students will be in a position to appraise the relevance of political philosophy in
understanding contemporary politics.

Unit-I: Antiquity

a. Plato: Theory of Forms, Justice, Philosopher Ruler

b. Aristotle: Citizenship, Justice, Classification of governments

Unit-II: Interlude

a. Renaissance
b. Machiavelli: Virtue, Morality and Statecraft, Republicanism

Unit-III: Social Contract Tradition

a. Hobbes: State of Nature, Social Contract, State

b. Locke: Laws of Nature, Natural Rights, Social Contract, Property
c. Rousseau: State of nature, Social Contract, General Will

Unit-IV: Liberal and Marxist Thought

a. J.S. Mill: Utilitarianism and Liberty

b. Marry Wollstonecraft: Women and Rights
c. Karl Marx: Historical Materialism, Class Struggle

Reading List:

Unit-I

C. Reeve, (2009) ‘Plato’, in D. Boucher and P. Kelly, (eds) Political Thinkers: From Socrates to
the Present, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 62-80
C. Taylor, (1995) ‘Politics’, in J. Barnes (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 232-258
J. Coleman, (2000) ‘Aristotle’, in J. Coleman A History of Political Thought: From Ancient Greece
to Early Christianity, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp.120-186
R. Kraut, (1996) ‘Introduction to the study of Plato’, in R. Kraut (ed.) The Cambridge Companion
to Plato. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-50.
S. Okin, (1992) ‘Philosopher Queens and Private Wives’, in S. OkinWomen in Western Political
Thought, Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 28-50
T. Burns, (2009) ‘Aristotle’, in D. Boucher, and P. Kelly, (eds) Political Thinkers: From Socrates
to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.81-99.

Unit-II

A. Skoble and T. Machan, (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections. New Delhi: Pearson
Education, pp. 9-32.
A. Skoble and T. Machan, (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections. New Delhi: Pearson
Education pp. 131-157.
B. Constant, (1833) ‘The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns’, in D. Boaz,
(ed), (1997) The Libertarian Reader, New York: The Free Press.
D. Baumgold, (2009) ‘Hobbes’, in D. Boucher and P. Kelly (eds) Political Thinkers: From
Socrates to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 189-206.
J. Coleman, (2000) ‘Introduction’, in A History of Political Thought: From Ancient Greece to
Early Christianity, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 1-20.
Q. Skinner, (2000) ‘The Theorist of Liberty’, in Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, pp. 54-87.
Q. Skinner, (2010) ‘Preface’, in The Foundations of Modern Political Thought Volume I,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press pp. ix-xv.

Unit-III

A. Bloom, (1987) ‘Jean-Jacques Rousseau’, in Strauss, L. and Cropsey, J. (eds.) History of

Political Philosophy, 2nd edition. Chicago: Chicago University Press, pp. 559-580.
A. Ryan, (1996) ‘Hobbes's political philosophy’, in T. Sorell, (ed.) Cambridge Companion to
Hobbes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 208-245.
A. Skoble and T. Machan, (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections. New Delhi: Pearson
Education, pp. 181-209.
B. Nelson, (2008) Western Political Thought. New York: Pearson Longman, pp. 221-255.
C. Macpherson (1962) The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke. Oxford
University Press, Ontario, pp. 17-29.
C. Macpherson, (1962) The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke.
Oxford University Press, Ontario, pp. 194-214.
I. Hampsher-Monk, (2001) A History of Modern Political Thought: Major Political Thinkers from
Hobbes to Marx, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 69-116
I.Hampsher-Monk, (2001) ‘Thomas Hobbes’, in A History of Modern Political Thought: Major
Political Thinkers from Hobbes to Marx, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 1-67.
J. Waldron, (2009) ‘John Locke’, in D. Boucher and P. Kelly, (eds) Political Thinkers: From
Socrates to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 207-224
M. Keens-Soper, (2003) ‘Jean Jacques Rousseau: The Social Contract’, in M. Forsyth and M.
Keens-Soper, (eds) A Guide to the Political Classics: Plato to Rousseau. New York: Oxford
University Press, pp. 171-202.
R. Ashcraft, (1999) ‘Locke's Political Philosophy’, in V. Chappell (ed.) The Cambridge
Companion to Locke, Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, pp. 226-251.

Unit-IV

A. Skoble and T. Machan, (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, New Delhi: Pearson
Education, pp. 328-354.
A. Skoble, and T. Machan, (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, New Delhi: Pearson
Education, pp. 286-327.
B. Ollman (1991) Marxism: An Uncommon Introduction, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers. G.
Blakely and V. Bryson (2005) Marx and Other Four Letter Words, London: Pluto
C. Jones, (2002) ‘Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindications and their Political Tradition’ in C. Johnson,
(ed.) The Cambridge Companion to Mary Wollstonecraft, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, pp. 42-58.
H. Magid, (1987) ‘John Stuart Mill’, in L. Strauss and J. Cropsey, (eds), History of Political
Philosophy, 2nd edition. Chicago: Chicago University Press, pp. 784-801.
J. Cropsey, (1987) ‘Karl Marx’, in L. Strauss and J. Cropsey, (eds) History of Political Philosophy,
2ndEdition. Chicago: Chicago University Press, pp. 802-828.
L. Wilde, (2003) ‘Early Marx’, in D. Boucher and P. Kelly, P. (eds) Political Thinkers: From
Socrates to the Present. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 404-435.
P. Kelly, (2003) ‘J.S. Mill on Liberty’, in D. Boucher, and P. Kelly, (eds.) Political Thinkers: From
Socrates to the Present. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 324-359.
S. Ferguson, (1999) ‘The Radical Ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft’, in Canadian Journal of Political
Science XXXII (3), pp. 427-50, Available at http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/politics, Accessed:
19.04.2013.
Selections from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Available at
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/wollstonecraft/womana. html#CHAPTER%20II,
Accessed: 19.04.2013.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-02: Indian Political Thought (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Joanna Mahjebeen, Gauhati University, jmahjebeen@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Ankita Baruah, Darrang College, Tezpur, ankitabaruah65@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 To introduce the students to the diversity of thinkers in the Indian political tradition.
 To enable them to understand the trajectory of development of Indian Political Thought
spanning over two millennia
 To introduce students to the social context which influenced the formation of such ideas
 To provide a sense of the broad streams of Indian thought while encouraging a specific
knowledge of individual thinkers and texts.

Course Outcomes:

 Better understand the themes and issues in political thought of India.

 Compare and contrast positions of leading political thinkers in India on issues that are
constitutive of modern India.
  Comprehend the importance of the socio-political context for the emergence of the ideas.
 Assess the relevance of political thought of India in understanding contemporary politics.

Unit-I: Ancient Political Thought

a. Kautilya: Theory of State

b. Manu: Social laws

Unit-II: Medieval Political Thought

a. Ziauddin Barani: Ideal Polity

b. Abul Fazl: Governance and Administration

Unit-III: Modern Political Thought

a. Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Reformist ideas

b. Gandhi: Swaraj; Satyagraha; Critique of Modern Civilisation
c. Nehru: Secularism, Socialism

Unit-IV: Caste, Class and Gender in Indian Political Thought

a. Ambedkar: The Revolution against Caste

b. Lohia: Socialism
c. Tarabai Shinde: Patriarchy and Caste

Reading List:

Unit-I

Kautilya, (1997) ‘The Elements of Sovereignty’ in R. Kangle (ed. and trns.), Arthasastra of
Kautilya, New Delhi: Motilal Publishers, pp. 511- 514.
Manu, (2006) ‘Rules for Times of Adversity’, in P. Olivelle, (ed. &trans.) Manu’s Code of Law:
A Critical Edition and Translation of the Manava- Dharamsastra, New Delhi: OUP, pp. 208-
213.
P. Olivelle, (2006) ‘Introduction’, in Manu’s Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of
the Manava –Dharmasastra, Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 3- 50
R. Kangle, (1997) Arthashastra of Kautilya-Part-III: A Study, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, rpt.,
pp. 116- 142.
R. Sharma, ( 1991) ‘Varna in Relation to Law and Politics (c 600 BC-AD 500)’, in Aspects of
Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 233- 251.
Singh, M.P., (2011), Kautilya: Theory of Stat, in M.P. Singh & Himanghsu Roy(ed) Indian
Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers, Pearson Publications, New Delhi, pp 1-17.
Sinha, Nalini (2011), Manu: Social Laws, in M.P. Singh & Himanghsu Roy(ed) Indian Political
Thought: Themes and Thinkers, Pearson Publications, New Delhi, pp 18-29
V. Mehta, (1992) ‘The Cosmic Vision: Manu’, in Foundations of Indian Political Thought,
Delhi: Manohar, pp. 23- 39.
V.Mehta, (1992) ‘The Pragmatic Vision: Kautilya and His Successor’, in Foundations of Indian
Political Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 88- 109.
Unit-II

Fazl, A., (1873) The Ain-i Akbari (translated by H. Blochmann), Calcutta: G. H. Rouse, pp. 47-
57.
Habib, I. (1998) ‘Ziya Barni’s Vision of the State’, in The Medieval History Journal, Vol. 2, (1),
pp. 19- 36.

Habib, I. (1998). A Political Theory For The Mughal Empire — A Study Of The Ideas Of Abu’l
Fazl. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 59, 329–340.
Habib,I. (1998) ‘Two Indian Theorist of The State: Barani and Abul Fazal’, in Proceedings of
the Indian History Congress. Patiala, pp. 15- 39.

M. Alam, (2004) ‘Sharia Akhlaq’, in The Languages of Political Islam in India 1200- 1800,
Delhi: Permanent Black, pp. 26- 43

M. Alam, (2004) ‘Sharia in Naserean Akhlaq’, in Languages of Political Islam in India1200-

1800, Delhi: Permanent Black, pp. 46- 69.
Mehta, V.R. (1992) ‘The Imperial Vision: Barni and Fazal’, in Foundations of Indian Political
Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 134- 156.
Unit-III

A. Parel, (ed.), (2002) ‘Introduction’, in Gandhi, Freedom and Self Rule, Delhi: Vistaar
Publication.

B. Zachariah, (2004) Nehru, London: Routledge Historical Biographies, pp. 169-213.

C. Bayly, (2010) ‘Rammohan and the Advent of Constitutional Liberalism in India 1800- 1830’,
in Sh. Kapila (ed.), An intellectual History for India, New Delhi: Cambridge University Press,
pp. 18- 34. T.

Chakrabarty, B. & Pandey, R.K. (2009), Modern Indian Political Thought: Text and Context,
New Delhi, Sage Publications

J. Nehru, (1991) ‘Selected Works’, in S. Hay (ed.), Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 2, Second
Edition, New Delhi: Penguin, pp. 317-319.
M. Gandhi, (1991) ‘Satyagraha: Transforming Unjust Relationships through the Power of the
Soul’, in S. Hay (ed.), Sources of Indian Tradition, Vol. 2.Second Edition, New Delhi: Penguin,
pp. 265-270.

Mukherjee, R. (2009). Gandhi’s Swaraj. Economic and Political Weekly, 44(50), 34–39.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25663887
P. Chatterjee, (1986) ‘The Moment of Arrival: Nehru and the Passive Revolution’, in Nationalist
Thought and the Colonial World: A Derivative Discourse? London: Zed Books, pp. 131-166

Pantham, (1986) ‘The Socio-Religious Thought of Rammohan Roy’, in Th. Panthom and K.
Deutsch, (eds.) Political Thought in Modern India, New Delhi: Sage, pp.32-52.

Parekh, Bhikhu (1991), Nehru and the National Philosophy of India, Economic and Political
Weekly, Vol. 26, No. 1/2 (Jan. 5-12,), pp. 35-48
Parekh, Bhikhu (1997), Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, New York,
pp 64-91.

R. Pillai, (1986) ‘Political thought of Jawaharlal Nehru’, in Th. Pantham, and K. Deutsch (eds.),
Political Thought in Modem India, New Delhi: Sage, pp. 260- 274.
Unit-IV

B. Ambedkar, (1991) ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’, S. Hay (ed.), Sources of Indian Tradition,
Vol. 2, Second Edition, New Delhi: Penguin, pp. 342-347.
B. Mungekar, (2007) ‘Quest for Democratic Socialism’, in S. Thorat, and Aryana (eds.),
Ambedkar in Retrospect - Essays on Economics, Politics and Society, Jaipur: IIDS and Rawat
Publications, pp. 121-142.

Doctor, A. H. (1988). Lohia’s Quest for an Autonomous Socialism. The Indian Journal of
Political Science, 49(3), 312–327.
Kumar, Sanjay, Lohia: Democracy, in M.P. Singh & Himanghsu Roy(ed) Indian Political
Thought: Themes and Thinkers, Pearson Publications, New Delhi, pp 251-258.
P. Chatterjee, (2005) ‘Ambedkar and the Troubled times of Citizenship’, in V. Mehta and Th.
Pantham (eds.), Political ideas in modern India: Thematic Explorations, New Delhi: Sage, pp.
73-92.

T. Shinde, (1993) ‘Stree Purusha Tulna’, in K. Lalitha and Susie Tharu (eds), Women Writing in
India, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, pp. 221-234
Tolpadi, R. (2010), Context, Discourse and Vision of Lohia’s Socialism, Economic and political
Weekly, 45(40), 71–77.

V. Rodrigues, (2007) ‘Good society, Rights, Democracy Socialism’, in S. Thorat and Aryama
(eds.), Ambedkar in Retrospect - Essays on Economics, Politics and Society, Jaipur: IIDS and
Rawat Publications.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-03a: United Nations and Global Conflict (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Shubhrajeet Konwer, Gauhati University, sk489@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Ratul Ch. Kalita, Tihu College, Tihu, ratulchkalita70@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the most important multilateral

political organization in international relations.
 It provides a detailed account of the organizational structure and the political processes of
the UN, and how it has evolved since 1945, especially in terms of dealing with the major
global conflicts.
 The course imparts a critical understanding of the UN’s performance until now and the
imperatives as well as processes of reforming the organization in the context of the
contemporary global system.

Course Outcomes:

 To make students learn the importance of United Nations as an organization.

  To enable students to have a basic understanding of the political processes of the United
Nations.
 To make students learn the relevance of United Nations and its intervention in global
conflicts critically.
 To help students identify and analyse the key conflicts that have shaped contemporary
global politics.

Unit-I: The United Nations

a. A Historical Overview of the United Nations

b. Principles and Objectives
c. Structures and Functions: General Assembly; Security Council, and Economic and Social
Council; the International Court of Justice

Unit-II: The United Nations in Conflict Resolution

a. Collective security during the Cold War

b. Peace Keeping, Peace Making and Enforcement, Peace Building and Responsibility to Protect
c. Reforming the UN

Unit-III: Specialised Agencies of the UN: Role and Challenges

a. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

b. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
c. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
d. The World Health Organisation (WHO)

Unit-IV: Major Global Conflicts Since the End of the Cold War

a. The war in Afghanistan

b. The war in Iraq
c. The war in Ukraine

Reading List:
Unit-I

Armstrong, D., Lloyd, L. and Redmond, J. (2004) International organisations in world

politics.3rd edn. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 42-43.

Basu, Rumki (2014) United Nations: Structure and Functions of an international organization,
New Delhi, Sterling Publishers

Gareis, S.B. and Varwick, J. (2005) The United Nations: An introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave,
pp. 15-21.

Unit-II

Claude, I. (1984) Swords into plowshares: the progress and problems of international
organisation. 4th edn. New York: Random House

Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) (2008) The globalization of world politics. an introduction to
international relations. 4th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 405-422.

Calvocoressi, P. (2001) World Politics: 1945-200. 3rd edn. Harlow: Pearson Education, pp. 116-
124.

Dodds, F. (ed.) (1987) The way forward: beyond the agenda 21. London: Earthscan.

Ghali, B.B. (1995) An agenda for peace. New York: UN, pp.5-38. United Nations Department of

Public Information. (2008) The United Nations Today. New York: UN.

Nambiar, S. (1995) ‘UN peace-keeping operations’, in Kumar, S. (eds.) The United Nations at
fifty. New Delhi, UBS, pp. 77-94.

Rajan, M.S., Mani, V.S and Murthy, C.S.R. (eds.) (1987) The nonaligned and the United
Nations. New Delhi: South Asian Publishers.

Sangal, P.S. (1986) ‘UN, peace, disarmament and development’, in Saxena, J.N. et.al.United
Nations for a better world. New Delhi: Lancers, pp.109-114.

Unit-III

Baxi, U. (1986) ‘Crimes against the right to development’, in Saxena, J.N. et.al.United Nations
for a better world. New Delhi: Lancers, pp.240-248.

Goldstein, J. and Pevehouse, J.C. (2006) International relations.6th edn. New Delhi: Pearson, pp.
265-282.
J.S. (2003) International relations.3rd edn. Delhi: Pearson Education, pp 43-51. Moore, J.A. Jr.
and Pubantz, J. (2008) The new United Nations. Delhi: Pearson Education, pp.24-27.

Moore, J.A. Jr. and Pubantz, J. (2008) The new United Nations. Delhi: Pearson Education,
pp.119-135.

Moore, J.A. Jr. and Pubantz, J. (2008) The new United Nations. Delhi: Pearson Education, pp.
91-112.

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre. (2006) Human rights: an overview. New
Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Taylor, P. and Groom, A.J.R. (eds.) (2000) The United Nations at the millennium. London:
Continuum, pp. 21-141.

Thakur, R. (1998) ‘Introduction’, in Thakur, R. (eds.) Past imperfect, future uncertain: The UN
at Ffifty. London: Macmillan, pp. 1-14.

Whittaker, D.J. (1997) ‘Peacekeeping’, in United Nations in the contemporary world. London:
Routledge, pp. 45-56.

Unit-IV

Fawcett, L. (2023) The Iraq War 20 years on: towards a new regional architecture, International
Affairs, Volume 99, Issue 2, March ,Pages 567–585, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiad002

James Ellison, Michael Cox, Jussi M. Hanhimäki, Hope M. Harrison, N. Piers Ludlow, Angela
Romano, Kristina Spohr&VladislavZubok (2023) The war in Ukraine, Cold War
History, 23:1, 121-206, DOI: 10.1080/14682745.2023.2162329

Ratten, V. (2023). The Ukraine/Russia conflict: Geopolitical and international business

strategies. Thunderbird International Business
Review, 65( 2), 265– 271. https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22319

Shahrani, M. N. (Ed.). (2018). Modern Afghanistan: The Impact of 40 Years of War. Indiana
University Press.https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv8j6dx

Walldorf C. W; (2022) Narratives and War: Explaining the Length and End of U.S. Military
Operations in Afghanistan. International Security 2022; 47 (1): 93–138.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00439
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-03b: Comparative Government and Politics (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Shubhrajeet Konwer, Gauhati University, sk489@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Jintu Gohain, R. G. Baruah College, Guwahati, gohain89@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 Students will leave this course with the foundational knowledge they need to understand
comparative politics.
 Understanding the topic of Political Science is facilitated by studying the many
constitutions, each of which has its own history, institutions, and points of divergence.

Course Outcomes:

 To analyse the importance of different methods of “comparison”.

 To understand the different forms of governments..
 To assess the working of institutions .

Unit-I: Introduction to Comparative Politics

 a. Meaning and Nature
b. Comparative methods
c. Traditional and modern approaches to understanding of comparative politics

Unit-II: Introduction to British Constitution

a. History, Conventions, Features

b. Monarchy
c. Parliament
d. PM and the cabinet

Unit-III: Introduction to US Constitution

a. History and Features

b. President and the Congress
c. Supreme Court
d. Federalism

Unit-IV: Introduction to the Swiss Constitution

a. History and features

b. Federal Council and the Federal Assembly
c. Swiss Federation
d. Federal Courts

Reading List:

Unit-I

Bara, J & Pennington, M. (eds.). (2009) Comparative Politics. New Delhi: Sage.
Caramani, D. (ed.). (2008) Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hague, R. and Harrop, M. (2010) Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction.(Eight
Edition). London: Palgrave McMillan.
Ishiyama, J.T. and Breuning, M. (eds.). (2011) 21st Century Political Science: A Reference
Book. Los Angeles: Sage.
Newton, K. and Deth, Jan W. V. (2010) Foundations of Comparative Politics: Democracies of
the Modern World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
O’Neil, P. (2009) Essentials of Comparative Politics.(Third Edition). New York: WW. Norton &
Company, Inc.

Unit-II

Bhagwan, Vishnoo and VidyaBhushan and VandhanaMohla (2022)World Constitutions: A

comparative Study , Sterling Publishers.
Kapur, A.C. (2010) Select Constitutions, S. Chand.
Palekar, S.A. (2009) Comparative Government and Politics. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

Unit-III

Bhagwan, Vishnoo and VidyaBhushan and VandhanaMohla (2022)World Constitutions: A

comparative Study , Sterling Publishers.
Kapur, A.C. (2010) Select Constitutions, S. Chand.
Palekar, S.A. (2009) Comparative Government and Politics. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

Unit-IV

Bhagwan, Vishnoo and VidyaBhushan and VandhanaMohla (2022) World Constitutions: A

comparative Study , Sterling Publishers.
Kapur, A.C. & Mishra, K.K. (2010) Select Constitutions, S. Chand.
Palekar, S.A. (2009) Comparative Government and Politics. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-04a: Introduction to India’s Foreign Policy (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Rubul Patgiri, Gauhati University, rubulpatgiri@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Ankita Baruah, Darrang College, Tezpur, ankitabaruah65@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The course seeks to provide basic knowledge of India’s foreign policy.

 Foreign policy of India is dynamic and wider area of study.
 By exposing students to the various aspects of foreign policy formulation process in India,
evolving nature of India’s engagement with different powers and actors and its major
foreign policy initiatives, the course is structured to equip them with the basic knowledge
necessary to follow India’s foreign issues and debates.

Course Outcomes:

 To enable students to learn about the evolution of India’s engagement with the world and
foreign policy formulation process in India.
  To familiarize students the nature of India’s evolving relationship with major powers and
its neighbours.
 To demonstrate the knowledge of multilateral diplomacy of India.

Unit-I: Making of India’s Foreign Policy:

a. Evolution of India’s foreign policy-Nehruvian tradition and India in the new world order
b. Domestic and External determinants,
c. Policy formulation process-the Institutional structure (MEA, PMO and Parliament)

Unit-II: India and Major Powers

India’s relations with

a. USA,
b. Russia
c. China

Unit-III: India and its Neighbours

a. Pakistan,
b. Bangladesh
c. Sri Lanka
d. Concept of ‘Extended Neighbourhood’ and India’s Look (Act) East Policy.

Unit-IV: India’s Multilateral Diplomacy

a. India and the United Nations

b. India and International financial Institutions,
c. India and Climate change
Reading List:

Unit-I

A. Appadorai (1982). Domestic Roots of India’s Foreign Policy: 1947-72, New Delhi: Oxford
University Press.

A.P. Rana: The Imperatives of Non-Alignment: A Conceptual Study of India's Foreign Policy
Strategy in the Nehru Period. Macmillan, New Delhi, 1976
C. Mohan, (2013) ‘Changing Global Order: India’s Perspective’, in A. Tellis and S. Mirski (eds.),
Crux of Asia: China, India, and the Emerging Global Order, Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace: Washington.
Ch. Ogden, (2011) ‘International ‘Aspirations’ of a Rising Power’, in David Scott (ed.), Handbook
of India’s International Relations, London: Routeledge, pp.3-31
Chaudhury, Rudra, (2015). ‘The Parliament’ in David M. Malone et al (eds). The Oxford
Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, UK: Oxford University Press.
J. Bandhopadhyaya, (1970). The Making of India's Foreign Policy, New Delhi: Allied Publishers.
Madan, Tanvi, (2015). ‘Officialdom: South Block and Beyond’ in David M. Malone et al. (eds).
The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, UK: Oxford University Press.

Mansingh, Surjit , (1998). Nehru s Foreign Policy, Fifty Years On, New Delhi: Mosaic Books
P. Mehta, (2009) ‘Still Under Nehru’s Shadow? The Absence of Foreign Policy Frameworks in
India’, in India Review, Vol. 8 (3), pp. 209–233.
R. Rajgopalan and V. Sahni (2008), ‘India and the Great Powers: Strategic Imperatives, Normative
Necessities’, in South Asian Survey, Vol. 15 (1), pp. 5–32.
S. Cohen, (2002) India: Emerging Power, Brookings Institution Press.
S. Ganguly and M. Pardesi, (2009) ‘Explaining Sixty Years of India’s Foreign Policy’, in India
Review, Vol. 8 (1), pp. 4–19.
Saksena, P. (1996). ‘India’s Foreign Policy: The Decision Making Process’, International Studies,
33 (4): 391-405.
Sunil Khilnani, (2015). ‘India’s Rise: The Search for Wealth and Power in the Twenty-First
Century’ in David M. Malone et at, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New
Delhi: Oxford University Press.
W. Anderson, (2011) ‘Domestic Roots of Indian Foreign Policy’, in W. Anderson, Trysts with
Democracy: Political Practice in South Asia, Anthem Press: University Publishing Online.

Unit-II

A. Singh, (1995) ‘India's Relations with Russia and Central Asia’, in International Affairs, Vol. 71
(1): 69-81.
A. Tellis and S. Mirski, (2013) ‘Introduction’, in A. Tellis and S. Mirski (eds.), Crux of Asia:
China, India, and the Emerging Global Order, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace:
Washington.
D. Mistry, (2006) ‘Diplomacy, Domestic Politics, and the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement’, in
Asian Survey, Vol. 46 (5), pp. 675-698.
H. Pant, (2008) ‘The U.S.-India Entente: From Estrangement to Engagement’, in H. Pant,
Contemporary Debates in Indian Foreign and Security Policy: India Negotiates Its Rise in the
International System, Palgrave Macmillan: London.
H. Pant, (2011) ‘India’s Relations with China’, in D. Scott (ed.), Handbook of India’s International
Relations, London: Routeledge, pp. 233-242.
Li Li, (2013) ‘Stability in Southern Asia: China’s Perspective’, in A. Tellis and S. Mirski (eds.),
Crux of Asia: China, India, and the Emerging Global Order, Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace: Washington.
M. Zafar, (1984), ‘Chapter 1’, in India and the Superpowers: India's Political Relations with the
Superpowers in the 1970s, Dhaka, University Press.
R. Hathaway, (2003) ‘The US-India Courtship: From Clinton to Bush’, in S. Ganguly (ed.), India
as an Emerging Power, Frank Cass: Portland.
S. Mehrotra, (1990) ‘Indo-Soviet Economic Relations: Geopolitical and Ideological Factors’, in
India and the Soviet Union: Trade and Technology Transfer, Cambridge University Press:
Cambridge, pp. 8-28.
S. Raghavan, (2013) ‘Stability in Southern Asia: India’s Perspective’, in A. Tellis and S. Mirski
(eds.), Crux of Asia: China, India, and the Emerging Global Order, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace: Washington.
Unit-III

Amitav Acharya, (2015). ‘India’s ‘Look East’ Policy’ in David M. Malone et al, (eds.) The Oxford
Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
D. Scott, (2009) ‘India's “Extended Neighbourhood” Concept: Power Projection for a Rising
Power’, in India Review, Vol. 8 (2), pp. 107-143
David M. Malone (2018). Does Elephant Dance?, New Delhi: Oxford University Press
David M. Malone et al, eds. (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press.

Haokip, Thongkholal. (2015). India’s Look East Policy: Prospects and Challenges for Northeast
India. Studies in Indian Politics, 3 (2), 198-211
Harsh V. Pant, (2021). Politics and Geopolitics: Decoding India’s Neighbourhood Challenges,
New Delhi: Rupa Publications.
J. N. Dixit, (2010). India’s Foreign Policy and Its Neighbours, New Delhi: Gyan Publishing House
S. Cohen, (2002) ‘The World View of India’s Strategic Elite’, in S. Cohen, India: Emerging Power,
Brookings Institution Press, pp. 36-65.
S. Muni, (2003) ‘Problem Areas in India’s Neighbourhood Policy’, in South Asian Survey, Vol.
10 (2), pp. 185-196.
V. Sood, (2009) ‘India and regional security interests’, in Alyssa Ayres and C. Raja Mohan (eds),
Power realignments in Asia: China, India, and the United States, New Delhi: Sage.

Unit-IV

A. Narlikar, (2006) ‘Peculiar Chauvinism or Strategic Calculation? Explaining the Negotiating

Strategy of a Rising India’, in International Affairs, Vol. 82 (1), pp. 59-76.
David M. Malone (2018). Does Elephant Dance?, New Delhi: Oxford University Press
Jason A. Kirk, (2015). India and the International Financial Institutions’ in David M. Malone et
al, (eds.)The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Manu Bhagavan, (2015). ‘India and United Nations: Or Things Fall Apart’ in David M. Malone et
al, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
N. Dubash, (2012) ‘The Politics of Climate Change in India: Narratives of Enquiry and Co
benefits’, Working Paper, New Delhi: Centre for Policy Research.
Navroz K. Dubash and Lavanya Rajaman, (2015). ‘Multilateral Diplomacy on Climate Change’
in David M. Malone et al, (eds.)The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press.
Poorvi Chitalkar and David M. Malone, (2015). ‘India and Global Governance’ in David M.
Malone et at, (eds.)The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, New Delhi: Oxford University
Press.
S. Cohen, (2002) ‘The World View of India’s Strategic Elite’, in S. Cohen, India: Emerging Power,
Brookings Institution Press, pp. 36-65.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 5th Semester

Course Name: POL 05-04b: Understanding South Asia (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 500

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Shubhrajeet Konwer, Gauhati University, sk489@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Ratul Ch. Kalita, Tihu College, Tihu, ratulchkalita70@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The course introduces the historical legacies and geopolitics of South Asia as a region.
 It imparts an understanding of political regime types as well as the socioeconomic issues
of the region in a comparative framework.
 The course also apprises students of the common challenges and the strategies deployed to
deal with them by countries in South Asia.

Course Outcomes:

 To identify geo-political and historical construction of South Asia as a region.

 To analyse the politics and socio-economic issues of the South Asian Region.
  To assess the relevance of regionalism in South Asia and India’s position in the region.

Unit-I: South Asia- Understanding South Asia as a Region

a. Colonial Legacies
b. Geopolitics of South Asia
c. Regional cooperation in South Asia

Unit-II: Politics and Governance in Contemporary South Asia

a. Nepal: Monarchy and Democracy

b. Pakistan: Political Stability and the Role of the Army
c. Bangladesh: State of Democracy and Religious Fundamentalism
d. Sri Lanka: Constitutional Crises and Economy

Unit-III: Foreign Policies of Countries of South Asia

a. Nepal
b. Pakistan
c. Bangladesh
d. Sri Lanka

Unit-IV: South Asia: Regional Issues and Challenges

a. Human Development in South Asia

b. Insurgency and Terrorism
c. Refugees and Migration
Reading List:

Unit-I

Acharya, J. and Bose, T.K. (2001) ‘The New Search for a Durable Solution for Refugees: South
Asia’, in Samaddar, S. and Reifeld, H. (eds.) Peace as Process: Reconciliation and Conflict
Resolution in South Asia. New Delhi: Vedams ,pp-137-157 73

Baxter, C. (ed.) (1986) The Government and Politics of South Asia. London: Oxford University
Press.

Brass, P. (ed.) (1986)Routledge Handbook of South Asian Politics. London: Routledge, pp.1-24
72 I.

Hagerty, D.T. (ed.) (2005) South Asia in World Politics, Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield.

Hewitt, V. (1992) ‘Introduction’, in The International Politics of South Asia. Manchester:

Manchester University Press, pp.1-10.

Muni, S.D. (2003) ‘South Asia as a Region’, South Asian Journal, 1(1), August-September, pp.
1-6

Muni, S.D. and Jetley, R. (2010) ‘SAARC prospects: the Changing Dimensions’, in Muni, S.D.
(ed.) Emerging dimensions of SAARC. New Delhi: Foundation Books, pp. 1-31.

Rizvi, G. (1993) South Asia in a Changing International Order. New Delhi: Sage

Thakur, R. and Wiggin, O.(ed.) (2005) South Asia and the world. New Delhi: Bookwell.

Unit-II

Burki, S.J. (2010) ‘Pakistan’s Politics and its Economy’, in Brass, P. (ed.) Routledge Handbook
of South Asian Politics. London: Routledge, pp. 83-97.
Jha, N.K. (2008) ‘Domestic Turbulence in Nepal: Origin, Dimensions and India’s Policy
Options’, in Kukreja, V. and Singh, M.P. (eds.) Democracy, Development and Discontent in
South Asia. New Delhi: Sage, pp. 264-281

Kukreja, V. (2003) Contemporary Pakistan. New Delhi: Sage, pp. 75-111 and 112-153.

Kukreja, V. and Singh, M.P. (eds) (2008) Democracy, Development and Discontent in
SouthAsia. New Delhi: Sage.

Mendis, D. (ed.) Electoral Processes and Governance in South Asia. New Delhi: Sage, pp.15-52.

Subramanyam, K. (2001) ‘Military and Governance in South Asia’, in V.A (ed.) Problems of
Governance in South Asia. New Delhi: Centre for Policy Research &Konark Publishing House,
pp.201-208.

Unit-III

Ali, G. (Ed.). (2022). Pakistan's Foreign Policy: Contemporary Developments and Dynamics (1st
ed.). Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003250920

Basrur, Rajesh M., (2011) 'Foreign Policy Reversal: The Politics of Sri Lanka's Economic
Relations with India', in E. Sridharan (ed.), International Relations Theory and South Asia:
Security, Political Economy, Domestic Politics, Identities, and Images Vol. 1 (Delhi, 2011; online
edn, Oxford Academic, 23 Jan.
2014), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198069652.003.0007.

Dietrich, Simone; Mahmud, Minhaj; Winters, Matthew S. (2017). Foreign Aid, Foreign Policy,
and Domestic Government Legitimacy: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh. The Journal of
Politics, doi:10.1086/694235

Mainali, R. (2022). Analysing Nepal’s Foreign Policy: A Hedging Perspective. Journal of Asian
Security and International Affairs, 9(2), 301–317. https://doi.org/10.1177/23477970221098491

Pandey, A. (2021) Routledge Handbook on South Asian Foreign Policy, Routledge.

Unit-IV

Haq, Khadija (ed.) (2017) , 'Human Security for South Asia', in Khadija Haq (ed.), Economic
Growth with Social Justice: Collected Writings of
MahbubulHaq (Oxford), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199474684.003.0029

Hoyt, T.D. (2005) ‘The War on Terrorism: Implications for South Asia’, in Hagerty, D.T. (ed.)
South Asia in World Politics. Lanham: Roman and Littlefield Publishers, pp.281-295.

Lama, M. (2003) ‘Poverty, Migration and Conflict: Challenges to Human Security in South
Asia’, in Chari, P.R. and Gupta, S. (eds.) Human Security in South Asia: Gender, Energy,
Migration and Globalisation. New Delhi: Social Science Press, pp. 124-144

P. R. Chari, Sonika Gupta (2003) Human Security in South Asia: Energy, Gender, Migration,
and Globalisation, Berghahn Books.

Phadnis, U. (1986) ‘Ethnic Conflicts in South Asian States’, in Muni, S.D. et.al. (eds.) Domestic
Conflicts in South Asia : Political, Economic and Ethnic Dimensions. Vol. 2. New Delhi: South
Asian Publishers, pp.100-119.

Wilson, J. (2003) ‘Sri Lanka: Ethnic Strife and the Politics of Space’, in Coakley, J. (ed.) The
Territorial Management of Ethnic Conflict. Oregon: Frank Cass, pp. 173-193.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-01: Human Rights: Traditions and Debates (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Gauhati University, akhilranjan@gauhati.ac.in

Ms. Bondita Borbora, Dudhnoi College, Dudhnoi, bonditaborbora@gmail.com

Course Objectives:
 To understand human rights, its origin and debates. It is important for students to know
how debates on human rights have taken distinct forms historically and in the contemporary
world.
 To impart knowledge on the significant development of human rights starting from
European tradition to Cairo Declaration.
 To deal with several issues which violate Human Rights through a comparative study. The
course seeks to anchor all issues in the Indian context, and pulls out another country to
form a broader comparative frame.
 To explore challenges on Human Rights and future possibility.

Course Outcomes:
 To understand various dimensions of Human Rights and multiple challenges.
  To make sense of institutional framework as well as theoretical perspectives of human
rights.
 To develop critical thinking and the ability to make logical inferences about socio-
economic and political issues.

Unit-I: Human Rights: Theories and Institutionalization

a. Growth and Evolution of Human Rights

b. Three Generations of Human Rights
c. Are Human Rights Universal? Issue of Cultural Relativism.
d. Institutionalization: UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR, Human Rights Council

Unit-II: Traditions of Human Rights

a. European Tradition: European Convention on Human Rights, 1953

b. American Tradition: American Convention of Human Rights, 1969
c. African Tradition: African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, 1986
d. Islamic Tradition: Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, 1990

Unit-III: Structural Violence and Human Rights

a. Caste Question: India

b. Gender and Domestic Violence: India
c. Migration and Refugees: South Asia
d. Race: South Africa

Unit-IV: Contemporary Debates, Issues and Possibilities

a. Challenges: Market economy & Ecological Crisis

b. State Authoritarianism
c. Issues: Human Development and Human Security
 d. Possibilities: MDGs, SDGs

Reading List:

Unit-I

Alison Dundes Renteln , The Concept of Human Rights , Anthropos, Bd. 83, H. 4./6. (1988), pp.
343-364
D. O’Byrne, (2007) ‘Theorizing Human Rights’, in Human Rights: An Introduction, Delhi,
Pearson, pp.26-70.
I: J. Hoffman and P. Graham, (2006) ‘Human Rights’, Introduction to Political Theory, Delhi,
Pearson, pp. 436-458.
J. Morsink, (1999) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting and Intent,
Philadelphia: University of Pensylvania Press, pp. ix-xiv
Jack Donnelly, Cultural Relativism and Universal Human Rights, Human Rights Quarterly,
Jack Donnelly, Human Rights as Natural Rights, Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 3
M. Ishay, (2004) The History of Human Rights: From Ancient Times to the Globalization Era,
Delhi: Orient Blackswan.
SAHRDC (2006) ‘Introduction to Human Rights’; ‘Classification of Human Rights: An Overview
of the First, Second, and Third Generational Rights’, in Introducing Human Rights, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press.
U. Baxi, (1989) ‘From Human Rights to the Right to be Human: Some Heresies’, in S. Kothari
and H. Sethi (ed.), Rethinking Human Rights, Delhi: Lokayan, pp.181-166

Vol. 6, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 400-419

Yasin, Adil-Ul, and Archana Upadhyay, Human Rights Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi,
2004
Unit-II

A guide to the African human rights system: Celebrating 30 years since the entry into force of the
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 1986 – 2017 (2017) Edited by Centre for Human
Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria; South Africa: Pretoria University Press
C. Grabenwarter et al., (2014) European Convention on Human Rights: Commentary, Germany
Beck/Hart Publishing
Irfaan Jaffer (2021), Traditional Islamic Ethics: The Concept of Virtue and Its Implications for
Contemporary Human Rights, US: Vernon publish
Ludovic Hennebel, Hélène Tigroudja (2021) The American Convention on Human Rights: A
Commentary, New York: Oxford University Press
Murray and Evans (eds.) The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: The System in
Practice, 1986-2000; (2002)
Thomas M. Antkowiak and Alejandra Gonza (2017) The American Convention on Human Rights:
Essential Rights, New York: Oxford University Press
William A. Schabas (2015) The European Convention on Human Rights: A Commentary, United
Kingdom: Oxford University Press

Unit-III

A. Pinto, (2001) ‘UN Conference against Racism: Is Caste Race?’, in Economic and Political
Weekly, Vol. 36(30)
Ahmad, M. (2002) ‘Homeland Insecurities: Racial Violence the Day after September 11’, Social
Text, 72, Vol. 20(3), pp. 101-116.
D. O’Byrne, (2007) ‘Apartheid’, in Human Rights: An Introduction, Delhi: Pearson, pp. 241-262.
R. Wasserstorm, (2006), ‘Racism, Sexism, and Preferential Treatment: An approach to the
Topics’, in R. Goodin and P. Pettit, Contemporary Political Philosophy: an Anthology, Oxford:
Blackwell, pp-549-574
Singh, U. (2007) ‘The Unfolding of Extraordinariness: POTA and the Construction of Suspect
Communities’, in The State, Democracy and Anti-terror Laws in India, Delhi: Sage Publications,
pp.165-219
Unit-IV

Acharya, Amitav “Human Security” in John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (eds) The
Globalisation of World Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008),pp. 490-505
Caroline Thomas, ‘Global Governance, Development and Human Security: Exploring the Links’
, Third World Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr., 2001), pp. 159-175
Heike Kuhn et al. Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights. Germany: Springer Berlin
Heidelberg
M. Shamsul Haque, ‘Environmental Discourse and Sustainable Development: Linkages and
Limitations’, Ethics and the Environment, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2000), pp. 3-21
Paul Streeten , “Human Development: Means and Ends”, The Bangladesh Development Studies,
Vol. 21, No. 4 (December 1993), pp. 65-76
Roland Paris , ‘Human Security: Paradigm Shift or Hot Air?’ , International Security, Vol. 26, No.
2 (Fall, 2001), pp. 87-102
Stiglitz, Joseph (2002), Globalization and Its Discontents, New York: W.W. Norton & Company
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-02: Feminism: Theory and Practice (Compulsory)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Barasa Deka, Gauhati University, barasa@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Joanna Mahjebeen, Gauhati University, jmahjebeen@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Ankita Baruah, Darrang College, Tezpur, ankitabaruah65@gmail.com

Course Objectives:
 This course is designed to introduce students to the structural and institutional basis of
patriarchy as well as the basic concepts in gender studies.
 It would also give them an introduction to feminist thought and its evolving theories
including the contemporary developments.
 It attempts to highlight the contribution of women’s movements in different parts of the
world and also highlights the Indian Women’s movement from its inception to the post
colonial period with a special focus on gender issues in Northeast India.
Course Outcomes:
 It will help to better appreciate key concepts that offer an understanding of gender
inequality.
 Students will be in a position to comprehend the meaning of feminism and the theoretical
developments associated with it.
 It will help to appraise the origin and development of feminism in the West and Socialist
states.
 This course will help the students to comprehend the trajectory of women’s movement in
India and the issues addressed.
 It will lead to analysing and understanding the importance of gender in Northeast India in
certain key aspects.

Unit-I: Understanding Patriarchy

a. Patriarchy and gender
b. Sex/gender distinction: Nature-nurture debate
c. Private-public dichotomy

Unit-II: Feminism: Concept and Theories

a. Concept of Feminism
b. Theories of Feminism: Liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Radical
e. New developments in feminist thought: Eco-feminism, Black feminism, Queer

Unit-III: History of Feminism

a. Origins of Feminism in the West: France, Britain and United States of America
b. Feminism in the Socialist Countries: China, Cuba and erstwhile USSR

Unit-IV: The Indian Experience

a. Social Reforms Movement and women in the nationalist movement
 b. Women’s movement in the post-colonial period : issue of family and property rights, work
and violence
c. Gender issues in Northeast India: conflict, peacemaking and politics

Reading List:

Unit-I

Bhasin, Kamla (1993), What is Patriarchy?, Kali for Women

Bhasin, Kamla (2000), Understanding Gender, Kali for Women
Davidoff, L. (1998). ‘Regarding Some “Old Husbands’” Tales: Public and Private in Feminist
History’. In J. Landes (Ed.), Feminism, the Public and the Private. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2013). The Nature-Nurture Debates: 25 Years of Challenges in
Understanding the Psychology of Gender. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(3), 340–357.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/44289881
Geetha, V. (2002) Gender. Calcutta: Stree, pp 1-20
Geetha, V. (2007) Patriarchy. Calcutta: Stree.
http://www.du.ac.in/fileadmin/DU/Academics/course_material/hrge_06.pdf,
M. Kosambi, (2007) Crossing Thresholds, New Delhi, Permanent Black, pp. 3-10; 40-46
N. Menon (2008) ‘Gender’, in R. Bhargava and A. Acharya (eds), Political Theory: An
Introduction, New Delhi: Pearson, pp. 224-233
S. Ray ‘Understanding Patriarchy’, Available at
T. Shinde, (1993) ‘Stree Purusha Tulna’, in K. Lalitha and Susie Tharu (eds), Women Writing in
India, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, pp. 221-234
Thornton, M. (1991). The Public/Private Dichotomy: Gendered and Discriminatory. Journal of
Law and Society, 18(4), 448–463. https://doi.org/10.2307/1410319
U. Chakravarti, (2001) ‘Pitrasatta Par ek Note’, in S. Arya, N. Menon & J. Lokneeta (eds.)
Naarivaadi Rajneeti: Sangharsh evam Muddey, University of Delhi: Hindi Medium
Implementation Board, pp.1-7
Unit-II
B. Hooks, (2010) ‘Feminism: A Movement to End Sexism’, in C. Mc Cann and S. Kim (eds),
The Feminist Reader: Local and Global Perspectives, New York: Routledge, pp. 51-57
Jagger, Alison. (1983) Feminist Politics and Human Nature. U.K.: Harvester Press, pp. 25- 350.
R. Delmar, (2005) ‘What is Feminism?’, in W. Kolmar & F. Bartkowski (eds) Feminist Theory: A
Reader, pp. 27-37
Tong, Rosemary (2009), Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction, Westview
Press, pp11-127.

Unit-III
Bryson Valerie. (1992) Feminist Political Theory : An Introduction. London: Macmillan
Eisentein, Zillah. (1979) Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism. New York:
Monthly Review Press, pp. 271-353.
Jayawardene, Kumari. (1986) Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World. London: Zed Books,
pp. 1-24, 71-108, and Conclusion.
Rowbotham, Shiela. (1993) Women in Movements. New York and London: Routledge, Section I,
pp. 27-74 and 178-218.

Unit-IV
Bhattacharya, J. (2010). GENDER, PEACEMAKING AND THE CASE OF NORTHEAST
INDIA. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 71(1), 233–239.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/42748384
Chinoy, Anuradha M., Militarism and Women in South Asia, New Delhi: Kali for Women, 2002.

Deeka, Meeta, Women’s Agency and Social Change: Assam and Beyond, New Delhi: Sage, 2013.

Desai, Neera & Thakkar, Usha.(2001) Women in Indian Society. New Delhi: National Book Trust.
Dhamala.R, Ranju, and Sukalpa Bhattacharjee (eds.) Human Rights and Insurgency: The North-
East India, Delhi: Shipra Publications, 2002.

Dutta, Anuradha, Assam in the Freedom Movement, Calcutta: Darbari Prokashan, 1991.
Forbes, Geraldine (1998) Women in Modern India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.
1-150.
Gandhi, Nandita & Shah, Nandita. (1991) The Issues at Stake – Theory and Practice in
Contemporary Women’s Movement in India. Delhi: Zubaan, pp. 7-72.
I. Agnihotri and V. Mazumdar, (1997) ‘Changing the Terms of Political Discourse: Women’s
Movement in India, 1970s-1990s’, Economic and Political Weekly, 30 (29), pp. 1869-1878.
Mahanta, A. (ed.) (2002) Human Rights and Women of North East India, Centre for Women’s
Studies, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh

Manchanda, Rita, (ed.) Women, War and Peace in South Asia: Beyond Victimhood to Agency, New
Delhi: Sage Publications, 2001.

R. Kapur, (2012) ‘Hecklers to Power? The Waning of Liberal Rights and Challenges to
Feminism in India’, in A. Loomba South Asian Feminisms, Durham and London: Duke
Sharma, Dipti, Assamese Women in the Freedom Struggle, Calcutta: Punthi Pustak, 1993.

University Press, pp. 333-355

Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-03a: Politics in Northeast India (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Alaka Sarmah, Gauhati University, alakasarmah63@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Dhruba Pratim Sharma, Gauhati University, dhruba75@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Dipjyoti Bhuyan, T.H.B. College, Jamuguri, djbhuyan100@gmail.com

Course Objectives:
 This course is designed to introduce students to the general perceptions about politics in
Northeast India.
 It would also give them an introduction to colonial experience in Northeast India.
 It attempts to highlight the different ethnic movements in different parts of the Northeast
India and contemporary politics in Northeast India.
Course Outcomes:
 It will help to better appreciate key concepts that offer an understanding about political
development in Northeast India.
 Students will be in a position to comprehend the meaning of political development in
Northeast India.
 This course will help the students to comprehend the trajectory of ethnic movement in
Northeast India and the issues addressed.
 It will lead to analysing and understanding the importance of Issues of Northeast India in
certain key aspects.

Unit-I: Colonial Policy- Annexation and Administration

a. Geo-Strategic Location and Socio-Cultural Diversity.

b. Expansion and Consolidation of Colonial Rule
c. Excluded and Partially Excluded areas: Inner Line.
d. Anti-Colonial revolts (Phulaguri Dhewa and Patharughat) and Freedom Struggle

Unit-II: Post-Colonial Developments

a. Immigration and Problem of Refugees.

b. Question of Identity: Naga Nationalism
c. Sixth Schedule.
d. Re-organisation of Northeast India

Unit-III: Political Developments in Assam

a. Language Politics.
b. Assam Movement.
c. Bodo Movement.
d. Rise of insurgency: ULFA and NDFB.

Unit-IV: Changing Nature of State Politics in Assam

a. Emergence of Regional Parties: AGP.

b. Formation of Autonomous Councils: Rabha and Mising.
 c. Citizenship: NRC and CAA.

Reading List:

Barpujari, H.K. (1980), Assam in the Days of Company 1826-1858, Spectrum Publications, Sole
Distributors: United Publishers, Gauhati, Assam.

Baruah, Sanjib (2007), Durable Disorder: Understanding the Politics of Northeast India, Delhi:
Oxford University Press.

Bhaumik, Subir (2009), Troubled Periphery: Crisis of India's North-East, Sage Publications,
New Delhi.

Das, Samir Kumar (1994), ULFA: United Liberation Front of Assam: A Political Analysis,
Ajanta Publications.

Dutt, K.N. (1958), Landmarks in the Freedom Struggle of Assam, Guwahati.

Dutta, Nandana (2012), Questions of Identity in Assam: Location, Migration, Hybridity, New
Delhi, Sage Publications.

Gait, Edward (2008), A History of Assam, Lawyers Book Stall, Guwahati.

Goswami, Sandhya, (1990), Language Politics in Assam, Ajanta Publishing House.

Guha, Amalendu, (1977), Planter Raj to Swaraj- Freedom Struggle and Electoral Politics in
Assam 1826-1947, People’s Publishing House Private Limited, New Delhi.

Haokip, T. (2015), India's Look East Policy and the North East, New Delhi, Sage Publications.

Hazarika, Jatin and Sharma, Dhruba Pratim (2021), Administrative History of Undivided Assam
(1826-1947), Assam Regional Branch, Indian Institute of Public Administration, and Anwesha
Publications, Guwahati.

Hussain, Monirul (1993), The Assam Movement: Class, Ideology and Identity, Manak Publishing
House with Har Anand Publications, Delhi.

Mahanta, Nani G. (2013), Confronting the State: ULFA's Quest for Sovereignty, SAGE Studies
on India's North East, New Delhi: SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd.

Misra, Udayon (1991), Nation Building and Development in North-East India, Purbanchal
Prakash, Guwahati.

Ray, B. Datta and S.P. Agarwal (1996), Reorganisation of North-East India since 1947, Concept
Publishing Company.

Saikia, Jaideep (2007), Frontiers in Flames: North-East India in Turmoil, Viking, New Delhi
Sanajaoba, Naorem (2005), Manipur Past and Present, Mittal Publications, New Delhi.

Sarmah, Alaka (1999), Impact of Immigration on Assam Politics, Ajanta Publishing House, New
Delhi.

Sarmah, Alaka, (2013) (ed), Democracy and Diversity in North East India, DVS Publications,
Guwahati.

Sarmah, Alaka and Konwer, Shubhrajeet (2015) (ed.), Frontier States: Essays on Democracy,
Society and Security in NE India, DVS Publications, Guwahati.

Sengupta, Madhumita (2016), Becoming Assamese: Colonialism and New Subjectivities in

Northeast India, London: Routledge.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-03b: Conflict and Peace Building (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Gauhati University, akhilranjan@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Gauhati University, jayanta1947@gauhati.ac.in

Mr. Rahul Bania, Tezpur College, Tezpur, rahulbania81@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 To create an understanding of a variety of conflict situations among students in a way

that they can relate to them through their lived experiences.
 To introduce practical conflict resolution techniques and strategies
 To encourages the use of new information technologies and innovative ways of
understanding these issues by teaching students skills of managing and resolving conflicts
and building peace.
 To pursue ways to reduce violent conflict and promote justice by means of negotiation and
nonviolent action
Course Outcomes:

 To learn the basic concepts about conflict and Peace Building.

 To Understand different approaches and theories to peace and conflict studies.
 To learn the various skills and techniques as conflict responses in the society.
 To understand the nature of socio cultural conflicts based on ethnic, religious and gender.
 Students will understand, compare and evaluate theories and research on the causes of
intergroup and international conflict and violence.
 Develop a critical understanding of how societies develop nonviolent means of basic social
change, recover from violence, and prevent it from reoccurring in the future.

Unit-I: Conflict and its Concepts

a. Understanding Conflict

b. Conflict Resolution and Peace Building

c. Conflict Management and Conflict Transformation

Unit-II: Dimensions of Conflict

a. Economic/Resource Sharing Conflicts

b. Forms of conflicts: Ethnic, Religious and Gender

c. Territorial Conflict

Unit-III: Conflict Responses: Skills and Techniques-I

a. Negotiations: Trust Building

b. Mediation: Skill Building; Active Listening

c. Role of UNO and Civil Society in Peace Building

Unit-IV: Conflict Responses: Skills and Techniques-II

a. Track I, Track II & Multi Track Diplomacy

b. Gandhian Methods
C. Media, NGOs and Peace Building

Reading List:

Unit-I

Ashutosh Varshney, Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India (New Haven:
Yale University Press, 2002).

Ballentine, Karen and Jake Sherman. 2003. The political economy of armed conflict: beyond greed
and grievance. Boulder, Co.: Lynne Rienner Publishers

Cordell, Karl and Stefan Wolff. 2009. Ethnic conflict: causes, consequences, and responses.
Cambridge; Malden, MA: Polity

Galtung, Johan. (1969). Violence, Peace, and Peace Research. Journal of Peace Research, 6:3, pp.
167-191.

O. Ramsbotham, T. Woodhouse and H. Miall, (2011) ‘Understanding Contemporary

Conflict’,in Contemporary Conflict Resolution, (Third Edition), Cambridge: Polity Press, pp.
94‐122.

W. Zartman, (1995) ‘Dynamics and Constraints In Negotiations In Internal Conflicts’, in William

Zartman (ed.), Elusive Peace: Negotiating an End to Civil Wars, Washington: The Brookings
Institute, pp. 3‐29.
C. Mitchell, (2002) ‘Beyond Resolution: What Does Conflict Transformation Actually
Transform?’, in Peace and Conflict Studies, 9:1, May, pp.1‐23. 16
S. Ryan, (1990) ‘Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution’, in Terrorism and Political
Violence, 2:1, pp. 54‐71.
J. Lederach, (2003) The Little Book of a Conflict Transformation, London: Good Books.
I. Doucet, (1996) Thinking About Conflict, Resource Pack for Conflict Transformation:
International Alert.
M. Lund, (2001) ‘A Toolbox for Responding to Conflicts and Building Peace’, in L. Reychler
and T. Paffenholz, eds., Peace‐Building: A Field Guide, Boulder: Lynne Rienner, pp. 16‐20.

L. Schirch, (2004) The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding, London: Good Books.

Unit-II

P. Le Billon, (2009) ‘Economic and Resource Causes of Conflicts’, in J. Bercovitch, V.

Kremenyuk and I. Zartman (eds.) The Sage Hand Book of Conflict Resolution, London: Sage
Publications, pp. 210‐224.
R. Rubenstein, (2003) ‘Sources’, in S. Cheldelin, D. Druckman and L. Fast (eds.) Conflict: From
Analysis to Intervention, London: Continuum, pp.55‐67.
S. Ayse Kadayifci‐Orellana, (2009) ‘Ethno‐Religious Conflicts: Exploring the Role of Religion in
Conflict Resolution’, in J. Bercovitch, V. Kremenyuk and I. Zartman (eds.) The Sage Hand Book
of Conflict Resolution, London: Sage Publications, pp. 264‐284.

Unit-III

C. Webel and J. Galtung (eds.), (2007) The Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies, London:
Routledge.
Ethnic Conflicts, Palgrave Macmillan: New York, pp. 1‐30.
H. Saunders, (1999) A Public Peace Process: Sustained Dialogue to Transform Racial and
J Bercovitch, V. Kremenyuk, and I. Zartman (eds.), (2009) The Sage Hand Book of Conflict
N. Behera, ‘Forging New Solidarities: Non‐official Dialogues’, in M. Mekenkamp, P. Tongeren
and H. Van De Veen (eds.), Searching For Peace In Central And South Asia, London: Lynne
Rienner Publishers, pp. 210‐236.
R. Wagner and D. Winter, (eds.), Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology forthe
Resolution, London: Sage Publications.

Unit-IV

Banks, Michael and Mitchell Christopher (Eds), 1990, A Handbook on the Analytical Problem
Solving Approach, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University.

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita (1980), “Theories of International Conflict: An Analysis and an

Appraisal,” in Ted R Gurr ed., Handbook of Political Conflict: Theory and Research, New York,
The Free Press

Gulrez, M. (2004) Conflict Transformation in West Asia, New Delhi, Uppal Publishing House.

H. Burgess and G. Burgess, (2010) Conducting Track II, Washington D.C: United States
Institute of Peace.

S. Mason and M. Siegfried, (2010) Debriefing Mediators To Learn Their Experiences,

Washington D.C: United States Institute of Peace.
I. Zartman and A. De Soto, (2010) Timing Mediation Initiatives, Washington D.C: United
States Institute of Peace. 17
A. Smith and D. Smock, (2010) Managing A Mediation Process, Washington D.C: United
States Institute of Peace.
J. Davies and E. Kaufman (eds.), (2003) Second Track/Citizens' Diplomacy: Concepts and
Techniques for Conflict Transformation, Rowman & Littlefield: Maryland.
J Bercovitch, V. Kremenyuk, and I. Zartman (eds.), (2009) The Sage Hand Book of Conflict
Resolution, London: Sage Publications. M. Steger, (2001) ‘Peace building and
Non‐Violence: Gandhi’s Perspective on Power’, in D. Christie, R. Wagner and D. Winter,
(eds.), Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology for the 21st Century Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice‐Hall.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-04a: Rural Local Governance: Theory & Practice (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Prof. Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Gauhati University, jayanta1947@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Diganta Kalita, B. P. Chaliha College, Nagarbera, dkalita72@gmail.com

Dr. Jintu Gohain, R. G. Baruah College, Guwahati, gohain89@gmail.com

Course Objectives:
 The course seeks to provide an introduction to the Rural Local Governance and its
significance in contemporary times.
 This course encompasses local governance in its historical context. This course acquaints
students with the Rural Local Institutions and their actual working.
 The course seeks to explain the various aspects of decentralization and democratic
decentralization. It further encourages a study of rural local institutions in their mutual
interaction and their interaction with the people.
 The course attempts to provide the students a comprehensive understanding on rural local
finance.

Course Outcomes:
  This paper will help students understand the importance of grass root political institutions
in empowering people.
 The students also gain knowledge about the important and significance of rural local
governance.
 Student will learn the constitutional structure of the rural local bodies.
 Student will understand the inter relationship among the concepts of decentralization,
democracy and participation.

Unit-I: Rural Local Governance: Concept and Evolution

a. Understanding Rural Local Governance

b. Rural Local Governance: Views of M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, R.M. Lohia, Vinoba
Bhave, J. P. Narayan
c. Evolution and Important Committees: Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957), Ashok
Mehta Committee (1978), L. M. Singvi Committee (1986)- 64 th Constitutional Amendment
Bill (1989)- 65th Constitutional Amendment Bill (1989)

Unit-II: Constitutional Perspectives of Rural Local Governance

a. 73rd Amendment Act: Major Features; 11th Schedule of the Constitution of India
b. Rural Local Governance in Tribal Areas: 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India
c. PESA (1996) : Key Provisions

Unit-III: Perspectives of Decentralization in Rural Local Governance

a. Democratic Decentralization: Key issues

b. Delegation and Devolution
c. Localization of Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges

Unit-IV: Rural Local Finance: Concept and Practice

a. Devolution of Funds to Panchayati Raj Institutions

b. Social Audit and Audit Online
 c. e-Gram Swaraj

Reading List:

Unit-I

Chakrabarty, B. & Pandey, R.K, (2019), Local Governance in India, New Delhi, Sage
Das, N. 2006, Bharator panchayati raj and Asamor swayatwa sashan, Mritunjoy
Maheshwari, S.R. 2006 Local Governance in India, Lakshami Naraian Agarwal, Agra.
Maheswaari, S.R., Local Govt. in India, Lakshami Narain, Agra, 2010Mishra, S. N., Anil D.
Orient Black Swan, New Delhi, (2012)
P. deSouza, (2002) ‘Decentralization and Local Government: The Second Wind of Democracy in
India’, in Z. Hasan, E. Sridharan and R. Sudarshan (eds.) India’s Living Constitution:
Ideas,Practices and Controversies, New Delhi: Permanent Black

Raghunandan, J. R: Decentralization and local governments: The Indian Experience,

Venkata Rao, V.: A Hundred Years of Local Self Government in Assam, Bani

Unit-II

Alam, M.2007, Panchayati Raj in India, National Book Trust, New Delhi
Baviskar, B.S and George Mathew (eds) 2009 Inclusion and Exclusion in local governance:
Field Studies from rural India, New Delhi, Sage
Gosh, B.K.2002, The Assam Panchayat Act, Assam Law House, Guwahati.
Joshi, R.P and Narwani, G.S,2002, Panchayati Raj in India, Rawat Publication Jaipur
Ray, B.Dutta,and Das, G. (Ed) Dimensions of Rural Development in North East India,
Akansha, New Delhi

Unit-III

Bidyut Chakrabarty, Reinventing Public Administration: The Indian Experience, Orient Longman,
2007
D. A. Rondinelli and S.Cheema, Decentralisation and Development, Beverly Hills: Sage
Publishers, 1983
Dube, M.P. and Padalia, M. (Ed.) 2002, Democratic Decentralization and Panchayati
Raj in India, Anamika Publishers, New Delhi
Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba, The Civic Culture, Boston: Little Brown, 1965
Mishra & Shweta Mishra: Public Governance and Decentralisation, Mittal Publications,
NewDelhi, 2003
M.P.Lester, Political Participation- How and Why do People Get Involved in Politics Chicago:
McNally, 1965
N.G. Jayal, Democracy and The State: Welfare, Secular and Development in Contemporary India,
Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1999.
Noorjahan Bava, Development Policies and Administration in India, Delhi: Uppal Publishers,
2001
Satyajit Singh and Pradeep K. Sharma [eds.] Decentralisation: Institutions and Politics in Rural
India, OUP, 2007

Unit-IV

Atul Kohli (Ed.). The Success of India's Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bidyut Chakraborty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey, Modern Indian Political Thought – Text and
Context, Sage, New Delhi, 2009.
M.Venkatarangaiya and M.Pattabhiram- Local Government in India, Allied Publishers-1969
SR Maheswari, Local Government in India, Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, 2008.
Mathur, Kuldeep: Panchayatiraj, Oxford, 2013
Sarmah, J. K. and Kalita Diganta: - GRAMYA STHANIYO XAKHON, Arun Prakashan, Guwahati,
2013
Niraja Gopal Jayal and others: Local Governance in India – Decentralization and Beyond, Oxford
University Press, 2006.
Subrata K. Mitra. 2001. Making local government work: Local elites, panchayati raj and
governance in India,
Ghosh, Buddhadeb &Girish Kumar: State Politics and Panchayats in India, New Delhi: Manohar
Publishers, 2003
Sudhakar, V.: New Panchayati Raj System: Local Self-Government Community Development -
Jaipur: Mangal Deep Publications, 2002.
Four Year Undergraduate Programme

Subject: Political Science

Semester: 6th Semester

Course Name: POL 06-04b: Urban Local Governance: Theory and Practice (Optional)

Existing Base Syllabus:

Course Level: 600

Theory Credit: 60

Practical Credit: 0

No. of Required Classes: 60

No. of Contact Classes: 60

No. of Non-Contact Classes: 0

Particulars of Course Designer:

Dr. Vikas Tripathi, Gauhati University, vikastripathi@gauhati.ac.in

Prof. Dhruba Pratim Sharma, Gauhati University, dhruba75@gauhati.ac.in

Dr. Diganta Kalita, B. P. Chaliha College, Nagarbera, dkalita72@gmail.com

Dr. Jintu Gohain, R. G. Baruah College, Guwahati, gohain89@gmail.com

Course Objectives:

 The objective of this course is to make students aware of the significance of governance
in the context of urban development and management.
 This course is intended to equip students with a basic understanding of the constitutional
structure related to the governance of cities and of the urban areas.
 It will enhance different theoretical understanding and debates like public participation in
urban governance, human environment interaction and of right to the cities.

Course Outcomes:

 Have a basic understanding of the policies and institutions governing cities and urban areas.
  Have a basic knowledge of the constitutional structure of urban governance.
 Understand the concepts and different dimensions of urban governance highlighting the
major debates in the contemporary times.
 Evaluate the importance of urban governance in the context of a globalising world,
environment, administration and development.
 Equipping students with the skill to analyse good governance practices and initiatives of
urban governance system.

Unit-I: Introduction to Urban Local Governance

a. Urbanization Trends in globalizing 21st Century

b. Sustainable Urban Development: Theory and Practice
c. Genesis of 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India

Unit-II: Constitutional and Legal Structure of Urban Local Governance

d. Constitutional provisions of Urban Local Governance

e. Overview of legislations on Urban Local Bodies: Parliament and State Legislatures
f. Urban Policies and Schemes: Focus Areas

Unit-III: Development and Environmental Governance

a. Ecology conservation and environmental governance in urban areas

b. Human-Environment interaction
c. Smart Cities Mission, right to the city

Unit-IV: Good Governance Initiative and Practices

a. Urban Public Service Delivery

b. Country and Town Planning
c. Public Housing and Slum Development
Reading List:

Unit-I

Bardhan, P. & Dilip Mookherjee, Decentralization and Local Governance In Developing

Countries: A Comparative Perspective, MIT Press, 2006
Chakrabarty, B. & Pandey, R.K, (2019), Local Governance in India, New Delhi, Sage
Publications
Mishra & Shweta Mishra: Public Governance and Decentralisation, Mittal Publications,
New Delhi, 2003
Maheshwari, S.R. 2006 Local Governance in India, Lakshami Naraian Agarwal, Agra
Maheswaari, S.R., Local Govt. in India, Lakshami Narain, Agra, 2010Mishra, S. N., Anil D.
M.P.Lester, Political Participation- How and Why do People Get Involved in Politics Chicago:
McNally, 1965
P. DeSouza, (2002) ‘Decentralization and Local Government: The Second Wind of Democracy in
India’, in Z. Hasan, E. Sridharan and R. Sudarshan (eds.) India’s Living Constitution:
Ideas,Practices and Controversies, New Delhi

Sachdeva, P. Local Government in India, Pearson Publishers, 2011

T.R. Raghunandan, Decentralization and Local Governments: The Indian Experience,
Readings On the Economy, Polity and Society, Orient Blackswan, 2013
Unit-II

Alam, M.2007, Panchayati Raj in India, National Book Trust, New Delhi
Joshi, R.P and Narwani, G.S, 2002, Panchayati Raj in India, Rawat Publication Jaipur
Baviskar, B.S and George Mathew (eds) 2009 Inclusion and Exclusion in local governance:
Field Studies from rural India, New Delhi, Sage
Bidyut Chakrabarty, Reinventing Public Administration: The Indian Experience, Orient Longman
2007
K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, Governing Megacities: Fractured Thinking, Fragmented Setup,
Oxford University Press, 2014
Niraja Gopal Jayal and others: Local Governance in India – Decentralization and Beyond, Oxford
University Press, 2006.
Noorjahan Bava, Development Policies and Administration in India, Delhi: Uppal Publishers,
2001
Parth J. Shah and Makarand Bokore, Ward Power-Decentralised Urban Governance, Centre
for Civil Society, 2006
Reserve Bank of India, Municipal Finance in India: An Assessment, 2007
Subrata K. Mitra. Making local government work: Local elites, panchayati raj and governance in
India, 2001
Unit-III
Diya Mehra, Protesting Publics in Indian Cities: the 2006 sealing drive and Delhi’s traders,
Economic and Political Weekly, 2012
Partha Mukhopadhyay, Unsmart Cities, Livemint, 2016
M.P. Ram Mohan and Anvita Dulluri, Constitutional mandate and judicial initiatives
influencing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes in India, Journal of Water
Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2017
Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Mission Document: National Urban
Livelihoods Mission, Government of India (2013)
Gautam Bhan, “This is no longer the city I once knew”: Evictions, the urban poor and the
right to the city in millennial Delhi, Environment & Urbanisation, 2009
Amit Chandra and Rajul Jain, Property Rights of Street Vendors, Centre for Civil Society, 2015
B. C. Smith, Good Governance and Development, Palgrave, 2007
World Bank Report, Governance and Development, 1992
Ramachandra Guha, Environmentalism: A Global History, Longman Publishers, 1999
J.P. Evans, Environmental Governance, Routledge, 2012
Emilio F. Moran, Environmental Social Science: Human - Environment interactions and
Sustainability, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010
Burns H Weston and David Bollier, Green Governance: Ecological Survival, Human Rights,
and the Law of the Commons, Cambridge University Press, 2013

Unit-IV

B. Chakrabarty and M. Bhattacharya, (eds.) The Governance Discourse. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press,1998
D. Crowther, Corporate Social Responsibility, Deep and Deep Publishers, 2008
Jayal, N. G. (1999), Democracy and the state: Welfare, Secularism, Development in
Cotemporary India, Oxford University Press.

Jean Drèze and Amartya Sen, India, Economic Development and Social Opportunity, Oxford
University Press, 1995
Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions,
Princeton University Press, 2013
K. Lee and Mills, The Economic of Health in Developing Countries, Oxford University
Press, 1983
Maxine Molyneux and Shahra Razavi , Gender, Justice, Development, and Rights , Oxford
University Press, 2002
Partha Mukhopadhyay and Patrick Heller, State-produced inequality in an Indian city, 2015
Pushpa Sundar, Business & Community: The Story of Corporate Social Responsibility in
India, New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2013

Sanjay K. Agarwal, Corporate Social Responsibility in India, Sage Publishers, 2008

Surendra Munshi and Biju Paul Abraham [eds.], Good Governance, Democratic Societies
And Globalisation, Sage Publishers, 2004
United Nation Development Programme, Reconceptualising Governance, New York, 1997
Model State Affordable Housing Policy for Urban Areas, MHUPA, 2013
Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971
National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007