Western Political Thought

Course Type	Course Code	No. Of Credits
Discipline Core	NSUS1PO604	4

Course Coordinator and Team: SES Faculty

Email of course coordinator: pcbabed@aud.ac.in

Pre-requisites: No

Course Description

The course has been designed to introduce to the students some classical political thinkers from the West who shaped the ideas and key concepts of Political Science. They have raised some fundamental questions that have travelled across time. However, different thinkers have provided different answers to the same questions. This course will not only delve into some of the important and perennial questions but also the answers provided by some of the key political philosophers beginning from Plato.

Course Objectives

Cultivate an understanding of the significance and evolution of the history of political ideas.
Introduce students to foundational Western political philosophers and their core concepts.
Enhance analytical and critical thinking skills through the evaluation of political theories and ideologies.
Encourage students to question, compare, and contrast diverse political philosophies and traditions.
Connect historical political theories to contemporary issues, highlighting the enduring relevance of Western Political Thought in modern governance and societal discourse.

Learning Outcomes

Analyse the diversity and internal debates within Western political thought, avoiding monolithic interpretations.
Conduct independent research and produce analytical writing that demonstrates a clear grasp of key political theories.
Contextualize Western Political Thought within broader global and historical frameworks.
Apply insights from political philosophy to contemporary democratic challenges, fostering informed civic engagement and responsibility.

Brief description of the modules:

Module 1: Introduction to the History of Ideas

This module explores the significance of studying the history of ideas, emphasizing how philosophical traditions shape contemporary political thought. It introduces the concept of interpretation, examining how meaning is derived from texts and how interpretation can be influenced by personal and cultural biases. The module also highlights the crucial relationship between text and context, demonstrating how understanding a work’s historical and social background is essential to grasping its meaning.

Module 2: Plato and Aristotle

Focusing on the foundational contributions of Plato and Aristotle, this module examines their contrasting views on politics, justice, and the ideal state. Plato’s vision of a just society ruled by philosopher-kings and guided by ideal forms is compared with Aristotle’s more empirical and pragmatic approach, which emphasizes the role of reason, virtue, and the political community. The module also engages with Aristotle’s controversial views on natural slavery and the organization of the polis.

Module 3: Niccolò Machiavelli

This module delves into the political thought of Niccolò Machiavelli, particularly through his seminal work The Prince. It explores Machiavelli’s realist perspective on power, leadership, and the necessity of pragmatism in governance. The role of religion as a political tool and the tension between morality and political necessity are key themes. The module also touches on Machiavelli’s republican ideas as presented in Discourses on Livy, emphasizing civic virtue and the value of participatory government.

Module 4: Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau

Examining the development of social contract theory, this module focuses on the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It traces their differing views on human nature, the origins of political authority, and the basis of political obligation. From Hobbes’s defence of absolute sovereignty to Locke’s emphasis on individual rights and Rousseau’s vision of collective will, the module highlights the enduring impact of their ideas on modern political thought.

Module 5: Mary Wollstonecraft

This module centres on Mary Wollstonecraft’s pioneering contributions to feminist political thought during the Enlightenment. Through her landmark work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Wollstonecraft critiques Rousseau’s limited view of women’s education and challenges prevailing notions of female inferiority. Her arguments for gender equality, rational education, and the rejection of paternalism laid the groundwork for modern feminism and continue to influence debates on women's rights and social justice.

Module 6: Karl Marx

Focusing on the critical theories of Karl Marx, this module examines his analysis of capitalism, class struggle, and historical development. Key concepts include the theory of alienation, which describes the estrangement of individuals under capitalist systems; historical materialism, which emphasizes the economic basis of societal change; and the class struggle as the driving force of history. Karl Marx's thoughts continue to be a subject of research, debate, and adaptation in various academic disciplines, and his influence extends beyond academia to political movements and discussions on social justice and inequality continue to shape both academic discourse and political activism.

Assessment Structure:

Assessment	Weightage
In-class quizzes and short response notes	30%
Assignments and/or presentations	30%
End-term assessment/Final examination	40%

References

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.
D. Boucher and P. Kelly (eds) Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 62-80.
A. Skoble and T. Machan (2007) Political Philosophy: Essential Selections. New Delhi: Pearson Education pp. 53-64.
Nelson, B. (2006). Western Political Thought. New Delhi: Pearson. pp. 23-68.
Nelson, B. (2006). Western Political Thought. New Delhi: Pearson. pp. 161-258.
Macpherson, C. (1962). The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke. Oxford University Press, Ontario, pp. 17-29 & 194-214.
Nath, Abhishek. “Jean-Jacques Rousseau”, in G. N. Trivedi (Ed.), Modern Political Philosophy: Contested Terrain of the Political, Delhi: Book Age Publication, 2018, pp. 38-64.
Nelson, B. (2006). Western Political Thought. New Delhi: Pearson. pp. 23-63.
D. Boucher and P. Kelly (eds) Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 207-224.
Skinner, Q. (2000). The Adviser to Princes. In: Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 23-53.
Botting, Eileen Hunt, and Carey, Christine (eds.), 2004, “Wollstonecraft’s Philosophical Impact on Nineteenth-Century American Women’s Rights Advocates”, American Journal of Political Science, 48(4): 707–722.
Megha, “Mary Wollstonecraft”, in G. N. Trivedi (Ed.), Modern Political Philosophy: Contested Terrain of the Political, Delhi: Book Age Publication, 2018, pp. 65-77.
Nelson, B. (2006). Western Political Thought. New Delhi: Pearson. pp. 326-358.
Kumar, Pawan. “Karl Marx”, in G. N. Trivedi (Ed.), Modern Political Philosophy: Contested Terrain of the Political, Delhi: Book Age Publication, 2018, pp. 94-109.
Clifford Owusu-Gyamfi, “Who Won the Debate in Women’s Education? Rousseau or Wollstonecraft?”, Journal of Education and Practice, Vol. 7, No. 6, 2016.
Ball, Terence, ‘History and the Interpretation of Texts,’ in Gerald F Gaus and Chandran Kukathas (eds.), Handbook of Political Theory (Sage, 2004)
Skinner,Quentin, ‘Meaning and understanding in the history of ideas’ History and Theory, 1969, 8: 3–53
The Republic of Plato, 2nd Edition. Translated with Notes and an Interpretive Essay by Allan Bloom (New York: Basic Books, 1991)
Aristotle’s “Politics”, 2nd Edition. Translated and with an Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by Carnes Lord. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013)\
J. Barnes (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, ed. C. B. Macpherson (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1968)\
John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, ed. C. B. Macpherson (Hackett Publishing, 1980)
Machiavelli, The Prince, 2nd Edition. Translated and with an Introduction by Harvey Mansfield Jr. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On the Social Contract, with Geneva Manuscript and Political Economy, ed. Roger D. Masters, trans. Judith R. Masters (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1978)