Test 4 : Political Science Mains Marathon
TEST 4: POLITICAL THEORY – 1
Q.1 To what extent it is correct to call Kautilya as the Indian Machiavelli? Discuss.
Q.2 In what way Hobbes and Locke legitimizes the authority of state over individual?
Q.3 “Nationalism is a step in the enlargement of human consciousness.” Explain the above statement with respect to Aurobindo Ghosh.
Q.4 How is Liberty a precondition for Equality? What is the relation between Liberty, Equality, Justice?
Q.5 “Each person possesses inviolability founded on justice which cannot be Overridden for the sake of welfare.” Discuss in terms of Rawl’s theory of justice.
Q.6″The fundamental issue of Republic is the discovery of nature and habitation of justice.” Discuss this statement as per Plato’s conception of justice.
Q.7 Examine the reasons why Behaviouralism called for an end to normative theory. Give reasons for the rise of Post-Behaviouralism.
Q.8 “Socialism is dead, and it largely the dynamics unleashed by globalisation that has brought its demise.” Do you think discussion of socialism in the age of globalisation is pointless?
Q.9 Write short notes on:
a) Participatory Democracy
b)“Natural rights are nonsense, nonsense upon stilts”- Explain.
Q.10 Compare instrumentalist and structuralist perspective on state with reference to the debate between Ralph Miliband and Nicole Polantza.
All Mains Marathon Optional Questions are updated in this page.
Plz provide model answers to all 4 tests @ForumIAS.
Ur the torchbearers for us.
Lot depends on u.
Q.2 In what way Hobbes and Locke legitimizes the authority of state over individual?
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Hobbes and Locke both belong to the tradition of social contract. But there is a significant difference between the two while justifying the authority of state. Hobbes, witnessed bloodshed and chaos during puritan revolution 1641, and therefore emerged as a scholar of law, order and security. He gives absolute authority to the state. While john Locke who witnessed more stable phase and glorious revolution 1688 and so he refused to give absolute authority to the state. Locke has limited the authority of state in favor of people.
According to Hobbes in humans passions dominate over reason and therefore man is guided by self interest. But Locke finds balance between passions and reason and therefore man is guided by not just self interest rather enlightened self interest.
For Hobbes state of nature is state of war of all against all. The life of man in state of nature is nasty, brutish and short. There was absolute freedom man was enjoying and absolute freedom means anarchy. As a result for Hobbesian man would like to bargain liberty for the sake of security. Man transfers all his rights to the state and therefore State emerges as Absolute.
While for Locke state of nature is state of peace, goodwill and mutual assistance. But still there are certain inconveniences because of absence of common authority. So for Locke state is a matter of convenience and therefore it has limited powers.
Wow…. Brilliant answer ??…. Continue this answer writing …. They will act as a synopsis for the aspirants like me …. Thank you ?????All the very best for exam ?
Thank you AJ. For reviewing. I referred class notes to write the answer.
You must be following Shubhra madam notes… Will u please tell me in which section we can find Miliband and poulantzas debate…. If possible send me snapshot of this perticular section from your notes cuz I couldn’t found it .. thank you ??
Theories of State. Marxist theory of state. Instrumentalist and structuralist or Relative autonomy
Still couldn’t found it ??… Please send me snapshot I will be greatful
I think we could add few more points while writing from the perspective of Locke ….
like reason for why the state of peace and goodwill also needs some authority to govern…
Peace and goodwill cannot be guaranteed to prevail forever and thus state is come into existence… It may possible that man will act with passion and disturb the peace and hence better to convert goodwill into legally enforceable contract….
I think this points shall be added which will add weight in the Locke’s justufication
Q.6″The fundamental issue of Republic is the discovery of nature and habitation of justice.” Discuss this statement as per Plato’s conception of justice.
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Justice is the central theme of Plato’s Republic. Plato has subtititled Republic as “Concerning justice”. Plato is the first political philosopher to have propounded a coherent theory of justice after rejecting host of views. The republic comes up with his own idea of what constitutes a just society and what justice actually means.
Plato proposes his theory of justice to make Athens an ideal state. Plato aims to understand the idea of justice means the perfect idea of justice or gods ideas of of justice. And hence he wants Athens to be based on gods idea of justice.
Plato refutes arguments of others about justice being paying ones debts or paying good to others and bad to enemies as being incomplete sense of justice. He even challenges the sophists view of justice as the will of the powerful or Glaucon’s idea of justice as the interest of the weak.
According to Plato there are two fundamental principles of justice
a. Functional specialization. The just state is where people are organized into 3 classes based on the spiritual qualities of soul. Each is involved in task in which they are naturally suited.
b. Non interference – A just man which means who can live in peace and harmony with others. On the basis of logical reasoning he suggests that a person in whom reason dominates over courage and appetite.
Thus according to Plato, a just society based on excellence, peace and harmony and this in turn ensure a state which is an ideal state.
very nicely written bro 🙂
Q.8 “Socialism is dead, and it largely the dynamics unleashed by globalisation that has brought its demise.” Do you think discussion of socialism in the age of globalisation is pointless?
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Socialism emerged in the 19 th century and flourished in 20 th century as a reaction or protest against the inequalities and exploitation by capitalist class. It gradually influenced large no of countries. Socialism was prominent in eastern Europe.
Socialism gained immense popularity in the countries of 3rd world because of existence of mass poverty and people related capitalism with imperialism. Even values of socialism are in harmony with non western world.
However towards the end of 80s – 90s socialism came under crisis. Communism collapsed in eastern Europe and most of the countries of the 3rd world had to adopt neo liberal policies. Socialism appeared to be dustbin of history and liberalism as the end of history.
However very soon there have been protests against neoliberal policies because they have increased the hardships of the poors. It has resulted into the inter state and intra state disparities. It has given rise to protest movements known as counter globalization movements.
Hence it is said that in 21 century socialism will emerge as ‘ anti capitalism ‘. In 21 century we cannot expect states to adopt socialist economic policies but socialism will emerge as a civil society movement against inequalities.
– class notes.
Very nicely written….. you could have given some examples which showing anti globalization wave in the world like the rise of the rightist wing in US or even in India or the Brexit….. even though government cannot adopt socialist principle as it is not rational but still socialism can be implemented in part and parcel through the welfare policies of government of today…… what would u say? correct me if i am wrong whenever time permits.
Q.9 Write short notes on:
a) Participatory Democracy.
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Participatory is a direct democracy. Direct Participation of citizens in the affairs of government is secured through various methods such as referendum, plebiscite, initiative, citizen charters, RTI, etc.
There is a variant of participatory democracy known as radical democracy, advocates ( M N Roy, Habermas, Jacques Ranciere ) of which favors social movements by subaltern sections as opposed to the institutionalized democracy ( Aristotle, Rousseau, Hannah arendt ) which talks about participation of people in government institutions.
According to Rousseau, ” Englishmen are free only once in a five year “. Hence for continuous exercise of power and enjoyment of rights there should be direct participation of people. Acc to him it os the necessary condition to filter out ” General Will “.
Gandhiji also favours and advocate for democratic decentralization based on the ” oceanic circles of power “.
Contemporary scholars like Amartya Sen belive participation of people is necessary for inclusive growth.
Is it right to say that participatory democracy is a direct democracy?? cant we bring participation in indirect democracy?? Like Modi government taking people’s opinion on some bills before voting over it the parliament ……….
We call participatory democracy – direct democracy.
But deliberative demoracy – deliberation – soul of democracy.
Wikipedia –
Delibera. Democ is compatible with both representative and participatory ( direct demo)
Oh okkk…. Thanks for the information buddy ?
Can you please review Test 6, question 8&10.
Of course…. Tomorrow for sure … ????
b)“Natural rights are nonsense, nonsense upon stilts”- Explain.
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Benthom is a crtique of natural rights theory. He is of legal rights tradition. According to him,” natural rights are non sense. Nonsense upon stilts…. Rights are properly the creatures of law. ”
According to legal theory the true source of rights is state. The theory is inspired by Hobbes. According to Hobbes man is unable to enjoy rights in state of nature. He can enjoy rights only when state grants protection to these rights. Thus the true source of rights is state. If natural rights scholars believe that intuition rather than institution is the basis of rights, legal rights scholars believe that institution rather than intuition or reason is the basis of rights.
Further, Benthom believes that the language of natural rights is terroristic and it can lead to anarchy. Hence he suggest that the real rights are those which are provided by the state.
Q.10 Compare instrumentalist and structuralist perspective on state with reference to the debate between Ralph Miliband and Nicole Polantza.
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Marxism considers state not as the product of contract rather outcome of force. There are two theories in Marxism on the basis of nature of state.
Instrumentalist school belives that the state is an instrument of the bourgeoise class. According to Marx “State is an executive committee of the bourgeoise.” As per the Base and superstructure model based on the theory of Historical Materialism
Hi sir…I want to start preparation for psir without coaching …Sir I read your answers on this forum a d find them quite impressive.. Please spend a few minutes to guide me how to begin what to read etc…
I have shubhra ma’am class notes… Please sir share Your strategy so that I can start by
Will be more than thankful
All the best !!
Thank you so much for your kind remarks.
Please follow mam s notes. For IR keep writing notes from newspaper articles.
Hello everyone,
I have just started answer writing practice. Can anyone tell where do I get model answers or synopsis to these questions? Not all the answers are covered in following comments. How do I assess my answer?