Political Theory – An

Introduction
An Introduction
Human beings are unique in two respects

• They possess reason.

• The ability to reflect on their actions.

Political Theory analyzes basic questions such as:

• How society should be organized?
• Why do we need government?
• Which is the best government?
• Does law limits our freedom?
• What does the state owe its citizens?
• What do we owe each other as citizens?
Political theory also examines questions of this kind and systematically thinks
about the values that inform political life — values such as freedom, equality
and justice.
What is Politics?

Politics is the study of power or the struggle for power.

• No society can exist without some form of political organisation and

collective decision making.

• A number of social institutions such as the family, tribes and economic

institutions, have emerged to help people fulfil their needs and aspirations.
→ Such institutions help us find ways of living together acknowledging our
obligations to each other.
 How governments are formed and how they function is thus an important focus of
politics.
→ But politics is not confined to the affairs of government.
→ In fact what governments do is relevant because it affects the lives of the people in
many different ways like their economic policy, foreign policy and educational policy
affects people's lives.

• Since the actions of the government affect us deeply, people take a lively interest in what
governments do.

• When people disagree with the policies of the government, we protest and organise
demonstrations to persuade the government to change the existing laws.

• So, finally, politics arises from the fact that we have different visions of what is just and
desirable for us and our society.
→ It involves the multiple negotiations that go on in society through which collective decisions
are made.
What do we study in Political Theory?

There are certain values and principles that have inspired people and guided policies.

→ For example, Ideals like democracy, freedom or equality.

• Different countries may try to protect such values by enshrining them in their
constitutions

as is the case with the American and Indian constitutions.

• These documents did not just emerge overnight; they are built upon the ideas and
principles debated almost since the time of Kautilya, Aristotle to Jean Jacques Rousseau,
Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• As far back as the fifth century B.C., Plato and Aristotle discussed with their
students whether
monarchy or democracy was better.

• In modern times, Rousseau first argued for freedom as a fundamental right of

humankind.

• Karl Marx argued that equality was as crucial as freedom.

• In India, Mahatma Gandhi discussed the meaning of genuine freedom or swaraj in

his book Hind Swaraj.
→ Dr. Ambedkar vigorously argued that the scheduled castes must be considered a
minority,
and as such, must receive special protection.
 Political theory deals with the ideas and principles that shape Constitutions,
governments and social life in a systematic manner.

• It clarifies the meaning of concepts such as freedom, equality, justice, democracy,

secularism and so on.

• It probes the significance of principles such as rule of law, separation of powers,

judicial review,
Why this is relevant now?

• India is free and independent, questions regarding freedom and equality have not ceased
to crop
up.
Because issues concerning freedom, equality, democracy, arise in many areas of social life and
they are being implemented in different sectors at different paces.

• For example, although equality may exist in the political sphere in the form of equal rights, it
may not exist to the same extent in the economic or social spheres.

Secondly

• Though freedom is guaranteed in our Constitution, we encounter new interpretations all the
time.

• For example, the right to life has been interpreted by the Courts to include the right to
livelihood. The right to information has been granted through a new law.
As our world changes, we may discover new dimensions of freedom as well as new
threats to freedom.

• For example, global communications technology is making it easier for activists to

network with one another across the world for protecting tribal cultures or forests. But it
also enables terrorists and criminals to network.
As a result, questions are raised regarding how much freedom should be given to people
using the net.
Putting Political Theory to Practice

• In this textbook, we are focused on one aspect of political theory — that which deals with the
origins, meaning and significance of political ideas that we are familiar with such as freedom,
equality, citizenship, justice, development, nationalism, secularism and so on.

• Political theorists have asked what is freedom or equality and provided diverse definitions.

• Unlike in mathematics where there can be one definition of a triangle or square, we encounter
many definitions of equality or freedom or justice.
→ This is because terms like equality concern our relationships with other human beings rather
than with things.
→ Human beings, unlike things, have opinions on issues like equality.

• For example, people often jump the queue in shops or doctor’s waiting rooms or government offices.
→ But also many poor people cannot go to the shop or to a doctor because they have
no money to pay for goods and services.

• Thus, our idea of equality is quite complex. The reason we have many definitions is
because the meaning of equality is dependent on the context.
Political theorists clarify the meaning of political concepts by looking at how they are
understood and used in ordinary language.

• They also debate and examine the diverse meanings and opinions in a systematic manner.

• As in the case of equality, so also in the case of other concepts such as Freedom,
Citizenship, Rights, Development, Justice, Equality, Nationalism and Secularism, political
theorists engage with everyday opinions, debate possible meanings and thrash out policy
options.
Why should we study Political Theory?

• Firstly, political theory is relevant for all the above target groups. As high school students,
we may choose one of the above professions in the future and so indirectly it is relevant for
us even now.

• Secondly, we are all going to be citizens entitled to vote and decide other issues. To act
responsibly, it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of the political ideas and institutions that
shape the world we live in.
Thirdly, freedom, equality and secularism are not abstract issues in our lives. People daily
encounter discrimination of various sorts in families, schools, colleges, shopping malls and
so on.
→ Political theory encourages us to do is examine our ideas and feelings about political
things.

• Finally, as students we enjoy debates and elocution competitions. We have opinions about
what is right or wrong, just or unjust but do not know whether they are reasonable or not.
→ Political theory exposes us to systematic thinking on justice or equality so that we can
polish our opinions and argue in an informed manner and for the sake of common interests.