Bahria University

(Islamabad Campus)
Course Title: Introduction to Political Science Instructor: Salman Ali Bettani Department of Management Sciences (Undergraduate Studies)

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Course Code: Credit Hours: Semester: Prerequisites: PS 100 Three (3) Spring 2012

COURSE OBJECTIVES
. This is a foundational course in political science. Its purpose is to familiarize students with the basic concepts and approaches to the study of political science. The course will focus on political institutions, political ideologies, the state and state-society relations, democracy, culture, and institutions. A significant emphasis will be placed on the ability to use these concepts toward the analysis of current political issues, disputes and trends. The course will provide an overview of the subject, its basics, evolution of the discipline, relation with other disciplines of social sciences. Its designed to introduce undergraduate students to the essential aspects, concerns and themes of political science inquiry

COURSE OUTCOMES
The objective of the course is to provide to students a basic understanding of the nature and scope of the discipline of Political Science by enabling them to: i. Gain knowledge of the nature and scope of political science as a social science discipline, and different approaches to the study of politics, ii. Familiarize themselves with key ideas and concepts of political science inquiry, and iii. Appreciate the utility of political science concepts and approaches in understanding political events and processes in their own environment in the contemporary political scenario with special emphasis on political economy. By the end of the course, students who work hard will: (1) be conversant in fundamental theoretical and policy debates concerning the political system, (2) have a basic understanding of the historical foundations of contemporary international politics

TEXT BOOKS (S) AND REFERENCES

Dr. Mazar-ul-Haq, Theory and Practice in Political Science. Rodes and Anderson, Introduction to Political Science

Bahria University
(Islamabad Campus)

Department of Management Sciences (Undergraduate Studies)

Thomas M. Magstadt, Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions, and Issues Neal Riemer, Joseph Romance and Douglas Simon, Challenge of Politics: An Introduction to Political Science

ASSESSMENT EVALUATION
Assignment +Project+ quiz=35 Midterm=25 Final Exam=40

COURSE CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE. 2. POLITICAL COMMUNITY 3. INDIVIDUAL IN POLITICAL COMMUNITY 4. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT 5. STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF GOVERNMENT 6. CONCEPT OF NATION STATE & POWER 7. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 8. NATIONAL INTEREST 9. COMPARATIVE IDEOLOGIES 10. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 11. INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSPHY

12. POST POSITIVIST DISCIPLINES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

SYLLABUS BREAKDOWN IN LECTURES (WEEKLY)

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Course Content
INTRODUCRION TO THE COURSE Conceptualizing Political Science and its relevance to the course POLITICAL SCIENCE a)Definition, nature and scope of Political Science. Relationship with other social sciences: Economics and History, Sociology, b) Geography and new trends in Political Science. c) Approaches to the study of Political Science: Traditional approach; Behavioural approach, Post Behavioral Approach (Functionalism). d) Political System: i) Meaning and Characteristics ii) Structure and Functions POLITICAL COMMUNITY a) State and its Evolution b) Concepts of State. i) Traditional concept with reference to Plato and Aristotle. ii) Islamic concept with special reference to Ibn-Khaldun and Shah Waliullah. iii) Modern Concept with reference to Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. iv) Concept of Sovereignty: Monistic and pluralistic;

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Bahria University
(Islamabad Campus)
4. Western and Islamic. INDIVIDUAL IN POLITICAL COMMUNITY i) Law and individual ii) Rights and duties of individual (Western and Islamic) iii) Liberty and freedom of individual FORMS OF GOVERNMENT i) Unitary, Federal and Confederation ii) Parliamentary and Presidential iii) Democratic and Totalitarian/Authoritarian. . STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF GOVERNMENT i) Legislature: law making ii) Executive: law enforcing iii) Judiciary: law adjudicating iv) Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION i) Electoral process ii) Voting behaviour iii) Political parties iv) Pressure groups v) Public opinion and media. CONCEPT OF NATION STATE i)Meaning of state, nation and nation-state ii)Evolution of the concept Power i)introduction ii)meaning iii)Forms Domestic and International Power COMPARATIVE IDEOLOGIES i) Capitalism ii) Marxism iii) Islamic Ideology and Nationalism

Department of Management Sciences (Undergraduate Studies)

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NATIONAL INTEREST i)Definition ii)Issues ii)Dimensions INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY i) United Nations ii) Regional Organizations: ECO, SAARC, OIC, NATO. INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSPHY Western Political Thought POST POSITIVIST DISCIPLINES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL AFFAIRS

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Bahria University
(Islamabad Campus) ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
Students will be asked to do Article reviews relevant to the subject matter and contemporary world politics. Evaluate the concept of political system in theory and relate it to contemporary situation in the country. The articles will help the students to draw common analogies between their core courses and allied subject. Department of Management Sciences (Undergraduate Studies)

FINAL PROJECT
A variety of topics would be suggested to students for a research presentation. The evaluation would be carried out assessing the basic research done, the delivery of the presentation and the presentation itself.