MPS

MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMME IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

ASSIGNMENT
(M.A. First Year Courses) For July 2012 and January 2013 Sessions

School of Social Sciences Indira Gandhi National Open University Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068

M.A. (Political Science) CORE COURSES

Dear Learner, As we explained in the Programme Guide for Masters Degree in Political Science (MPS), you will have to do a Tutor Marked Assignment for each course in the Masters programme. This booklet contains the assignments of the first year courses of MPS. You need to submit all the assignments within the stipulated time for being eligible to appear in the term-end examination. Before you attempt the assignments, please read the instructions carefully provided in the Programme Guide. It is important that you write the answers in your own words. Your answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for a particular section. Remember, writing answers to assignment questions will improve your writing skills and prepare you for the term-end examination.

All assignments have to be submitted to the Coordinator of your Study Centre. Remember to obtain a receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. If possible, keep a xerox copy of the assignments with you.

The Study Centre will have to return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on this. The Study Centre will note down the marked awarded for each assignment and forward them to the Student Evaluation Division (SED) at IGNOU, New Delhi. Submission Dates The completed assignments should be submitted as per the following schedule. Session For July, 2012 Session Last Date of Submission March 31, 2013 The Coordinator of the Study Centre allotted to you For January, 2013 Session September 30, 2013 Submit to

GUIDELINES FOR DOING ASSIGNMENTS We expect you to answer each question as per guidelines for each category as mentioned in the assignment. You will find it useful to keep the following points in mind: 1) Planning: Read the assignments carefully, go through the Units on which they are based. Make some points regarding each question and then rearrange them in a logical order. 2) Organisation: Be a little selective and analytic before drawing up a rough outline of your answer. Give adequate attention to your introduction and conclusion. Make sure that your answer: a) is logical and coherent; b) has clear connections between sentences and paragraphs, and c) is written correctly giving adequate consideration to your expression, style and presentation. 3) Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answer, you can write down the final version for submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to emphasize. Make sure that the answer is within the stipulated word limit.

Wishing you all the best,

MPS-001- POLITICAL THEORY TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPS-001 Assignment Code: Asst /MPS- 001 /TMA/2012-2013 Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 words. Each question carries 20 marks. SECTION- I 1. Discuss the recent debates on liberty. 2. 3. 4. 5. Examine the relation of equality with justice. Enumerate and describe the different types of duties. Give an overview of why government should be obeyed. Write an essay on some major causes of political violence.

SECTION- II Write short notes on the following in about 250 words each. 6. (a) Characteristics of Liberalism (b) Meaning of Libertarianism

7.

(a) Rejection of Dialectical Materialism(Georg Lukacs) (b) Early strands of Socialism (a) Meaning of Conservatism (b) Fascism (a) Post- Modernist Feminism (b) Technique of non-violent action (a) Communitarian position on state neutrality (b) Idea of Republican freedom

8.

9.

10.

MPS-002- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THEORY AND PROBLEMS TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPS-002 Assignment Code: Asst /MPS- 002 /TMA/2012-2013 Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 words. Each question carries 20 marks.

SECTION -I 1. Discuss the features and importance of neo-liberal approach to the study of International Relations. 2. Explain the core features of the Marxist approach to the study of International relations. 3. Critically examine the post positivist approach to International Relations. 4. Describe the world view of nationalist nationalists and pan-nationalists in the decolonization. 5. Examine the changing dimensions of security and highlight initiatives on peace and development.

SECTION-II 6. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each: (a) Theoretical challenges to analyzing the phenomena of globalization. (b) Role of foreign aid in development process. 7. Describe the changing nature of American power in the post-cold war international relations. 8. Trace the evolution of non-proliferation policy bringing out the main features of the non proliferation regime. 9. Briefly explain the post-Soviet state formation in Central Asia. 10. Briefly comment on the following: (a) North-South divide on environmental issues. (b) Future of nation-state.

MPS-003- INDIA: DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPS-003 Assignment Code: ASST/MPS-002/TMA/2012-13 Marks: 100

Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks.

SECTION-I 1. 2. Discuss the working of federal system in India. Critically examine the following in about 250 words each: a) Differences between procedural and substantive democracy. b) Importance of development for democracy. Discuss main challenges of ethnicity to the nation-state in India. Analyse the relationships among bureaucracy, police and army in India. Discuss the role of pressure groups in Indian democracy.

3. 4. 5.

SECTION-II 6. Comment on the following in about 250 words each: a) Meaning of Identity b) Caste in Indian politics Comment on the following in about 250 words each: a) Role of civil society in Indian democracy b) Sustainable Development Discuss the substantive and procedural aspects of democracy. Comment on the following in about 250 words each: a) Regionalism during the 1950s b) Relationship between gender and development Discuss the economic consequences of regionalism in India.

7.

8. 9.

10.

MPS-004: COMPARATIVE: POLITICS: ISSUES AND TRENDS TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: MPS-004 Assignment Code: MPS-004/AST/TMA/2012-13 Marks: 100

Answer any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks.

Section-I 1. Critically examine the structural functional approach for the study of Comparative Politics. 2. Analyse the Marxist understanding of state in developing societies. How does it differ from the liberal approach? 3. Describe and assess the impact of the process of globalisation on state sovereignty and its internal functioning. 4. 5. Describe and assess the liberal humanitarian approach to nationalism. What do you understand by constitutionalism? Describe the evolutionary mode of constitution making.

Section-II 6. Describe the methods and strategies adopted by communities to protect their identities. 7. 8. Describe the basic characteristics of democratic regimes. Analyse the importance of written constitution and its supremacy in federal states. 9. What do you understand by human development? Analyse the current thinking on human development. 10. What is meant by human rights? Describe major milestones in the evolution of the concept. 7