OPTIONAL COURSES: M.A. II Year (Political Science)

Dear Student,

As mentioned in the Programme Guide, you will have to do one Tutor Marked Assignment for each of the courses in the Master’s Degree Programme in Political Science. Each assignment has descriptive and short category questions. Descriptive Category Questions (DCQs) are meant for writing essay type answers, with an introduction and a conclusion. These are intended to test your ability to describe your understanding/knowledge about the topic in a systematic, to-the-point and coherent manner. Short Category Questions (SCQs) require you to first analyse the topic in terms of arguments and explanations and then write the answers in a concise manner. They are meant to test your understanding of the concepts and processes, and your capacity to critically anlyse them.

Before you attempt the assignments, please read the instructions carefully provided in the Programme Guide. It is important that you write the answers to all the TMA questions 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.

This booklet has assignments of all II year courses in Political Science. Do the assignments of only those courses for which you are enrolled and leave the rest.

Submission:

You need to submit all the assignments within the stipulated time for being eligible to appear in the term-end examination. The completed assignments should be submitted as per the following schedule.

Session / LastDate of Submission / To be Sent
For July, 2013 Session
For January, 2014 Session / March 31, 2014
September 30, 2014 / To
The Coordinator of the Study Centre allotted to you

Please 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 return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on this. The Study Centre has to send the marks to the Student Evaluation Division at IGNOU, New Delhi.

Wishing you all the best,

COURSE: INDIA AND THE WORLD (MPSE-001)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-001

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION - I

1.Analyse the points of divergence in the realist and interdependence approaches to the study of Indian foreign policy.

2.Assess the role of the Indian Parliament and its committees in foreign policy decision making.

3.Critically examine India’s disarmament policy. Has the nuclear tests conducted by it have any impact on it.

4.Trace the evolution of India’s multilateral and bilateral relations with the Latin American countries.

5.Critically examine the role of MNCs in the contemporary international economic relations.

SECTION – II

6.a) What do you understand by the term Nehruvian consensus?

b) Examine the role of business groups in India’s foreign policy process.

7.a) Describe the process by which Sino-Indian relations were normalised.

b) Critically examine India EU relations in the post-cold war era.

8. a) Analyse India Russia relations since the end of the cold war.

b) Central Asia is important to India for both economic and strategic reasons. Explain.

9.a) Write a short note on Indian Ocean RIM-Association for Regional Co-operations (IOR-ARC)

b) Examine the role of NGOs in the UN human rights system.

10.a) Analyse the features of the South Asian regional state system.

b) What are the areas of difference between India and the US in the post-cold war years.

STATE AND SOCIETY IN LATIN AMERICA (MPSE-002)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-002

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTON-I

  1. Discuss the inward and outward development strategies in Latin America bringing out their merits and demerits.
  1. Examine the chief characteristics and contemporary relevance of Latin American political traditions.

3.Compare the theory of dependency with other major theories of development and growth in Latin America.

4.Discuss the features of the plantation economies in the Caribbean.

5.Write a short note on the following:

a) Features of New Social movements in Latin America

b) Agrarian populism in Mexico

SECTION-II

6.Examine the role the Church in contemporary Latin America bringing out the innovations made by it to address socio-political issues.

7.Critically analyse the nature and features of bureaucratic-authoritarian regime in Latin America.

8.Write a note on

a) The peasant and the land rights movements in Latin America

b) India-Latin American relations

9.Latin American experience shows that political democracy and economic development reinforce each other. Comment.

10.Trace the evolution of regionalism in Latin America and explain the factors conducive for the emergence of third wave of regionalism.

WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT (From Plato to Marx) (MPSE-003)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

(TMA)

Course Code: MPSE-003

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION - I

  1. Discuss the major contents of western political thought. What is the significance of western political thought?
  1. Analyse Machiavelli’s ideas on the state and the concept of sovereignty.
  1. Examine the nature and characteristics of Rousseau’s General Will.
  1. Write a brief note on the political philosophy of Bentham.
  1. Explain J.S. Mill’s contribution to liberalism and equal rights for women.

SECTION -II

Write a short note on the following:

6.a) Plato’s theory of justice

b) Thomas Hobbes on the rights and duties of the sovereign

7.a)Aristotle’s theory of slavery

b) John Locke’s ideas on Resistance and Tolerance

8.a)Edmund Burke’s criticism of the French Revolution

b)Emanuel Kant’s political ideas on morality and peace

9.a)Alexis de Tocqueville’s views on the role of religion in politics

b)Hegel’s Philosophy of history

10.a)Hegel’s political ideas on Idealism

b)Marx’s theory of class war

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN MODERN INDIA (MPSE-004)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)

Course Code: MPSE-004

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION - I

  1. Write an essay on political ideas in Ancient India.
  2. Discuss the question of modernity and its colonial roots in India.
  3. Examine the social and political ideas of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker.
  4. Make a comparative analysis of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo’s views on nationalism.
  5. Explain Rabindranath Tagore’s ideas on freedom, humanism and nationalism.

SECTION -II

Write short notes on the following:

6.a)Ideas of Dayanand Saraswati

b) Ideas of Jyotiba Phule

7.a)Hindu nationalism of V. D. Savarkar

b) Political ideas of M. S. Golwalkar

8.a)Mohammad Iqbal’s social and political world view

b) Kazi Nazrul Islam’s ideas on Hindu-Muslim issue

9. a) Jawahar Lal Nehru’s views on Socialism

b) Evolution of the Communist Movement in India

10. a)Gandhi’s views on the concept of Swaraj

b) Socialist thought of Rammanohar Lohia

STATE AND SOCIETY IN AFRICA (MPSE-005)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-006

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION - I

  1. Describe the pattern of European colonization of Africa and its economic impact.
  1. Discuss the major challenges to nationalism and integration in Africa.
  1. What do you understand by human security? What are the main challenges to human security in Africa?
  1. Analyse the nature of India-Africa relations in the post-independence period bringing out the factors and forces shaping their relations in the contemporary times.
  1. Critically examine the evolution and changing nature of state in Africa.

SECTION - II

  1. a) Examine the factors responsible for the resurgence of ethnic conflict in Africa in the 1990s.

b) Assess the impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes in Africa

  1. a) Describe the emergence and growth of political parties in Africa

b) Examine the main features of post-cold war peacekeeping operations in Africa.

  1. a) Examine the factors that contributed to regional integration efforts in Africa.

b) Colonial rule had the twin effects of weakening nationalism and encouraging ethnic sub-nationalism. Comment.

  1. a) Describe the dimensions and impact of slave trade on African society.

b) Examine the factors contributing to the rise of authoritarian regimes in post colonial Africa.

  1. Examine the features of political regimes in Africa and explain the reasons for the shift from military authoritarian to pluralist regimes.

PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (MPSE-006)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-006

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION - I

1.Examine the differences between Boulding and Galtung in their conception of peace and programme for achieving peace.

2.The evolution of civil society in its relationship with the state has undergone major transformations in the modern period. Elucidate.

3.What is war? Examine the theories or conceptions of war at the system, state and individual levels.

4.What are the main features and assumptions of functionalism? How does it differ from neo-functionalism?

5.Critically analyse the powers of the Security Council concerning peaceful settlement of disputes.

SECTION – II

6.a) What is parliamentary diplomacy? When is this form of dispute settlement adopted?

b) How do CBMs contribute to peace? In which respects do the CBMs in Asia differ from those in Europe?

7.a) Examine the main features of the US nuclear strategy bringing out the changes brought about by the SDI.

b) How does the Gandhian approach to nonviolence differ from pacifism?

8.a) Describe the political and judicial methods for settlement of inter-state conflicts.

b) Define human security and examine its nature and scope.

9.a) Define civil war and examine its operational and structural aspects.

b) Bring out the distinction between peace research and peace studies.

10.a) Write a short note on asymmetric war and its relationship with terrorism.

b) Describe the procedure adopted by the World Trade Organisation to resolve disputes between nations.

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND POLITICS IN INDIA (MPSE-007)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-007

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks

SECTION -I

  1. Discuss the meaning and composition of social movements.
  2. Discuss the resource mobilisation theory to study social movements.
  3. Analyse the impact of globalisation on Indian state.
  4. Critically evaluate the growth, ideology and social base of the Bahujan Samaj Party.
  5. Discuss the significance of social movements in Indian democracy.

SECTION –II

  1. Write a short note on:

a) Relative Deprivation Theory

b) Politics of reservation

  1. Briefly describe:

a) the approaches to study ethnic movements

b) the features of New social movements

  1. Comment on:

a) the Fisher Folk's organisations

b) the characteristics of the rich farmers' movements

  1. Analyse the nature and features of:

a) the Narmada Bachao Andolan

b) the Chipko movement

  1. Discuss the following in about 250 words each:

a)Limitations of formal democracy

b) Characteristics of the regional movements

STATE POLITICS IN INDIA (MPSE-008)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-008

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks

SECTION -I

  1. Critically examine the main features of state politics in Indiathe 1950s-1960s.
  2. Discuss the Marxian framework to analyse state politics.
  3. Analyse the drawback of electoral system in India.
  4. Discuss the impact of land reforms on land system in India.
  5. Write an essay on the nature of self-determination movements in India.

SECTION -II

  1. Write a short note on:

a) The impact of globalisation on state politics

b) The role of elections in democracy

  1. Bring out the meaning and significance of:

a) Cooperative Societies

b) Sustainable development

  1. Comment on the following:

a) Electoral reforms

b) Politics of water disputes

  1. Analyse the following:

a) Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha

b) Linguistic minorities and politics

  1. Discuss the following:

a) The Bahujan Samaj Party

b) Tension areas in Union-State relations

CANADA: POLITICS AND SOCIETY (MPSE-009)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-009

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION-I

  1. Analyse the basic features of the Constitution of Canada.
  2. Describe the distribution of powers in Canadian federalism and identify the pressures towards decentralization of powers.
  3. Examine the structure and powers of Canada’s Local Self-Government.
  4. Describe the formula to amend the Canadian Constitution? What is the role of provincial governments in this process?
  5. Examine the nature and role of women’s movement in Canada.

SECTION-II

  1. Analyse the role civil society in the various stages of policy process in Canada.
  2. Examine the social and ideological basis of Quebec nationalism.
  3. Evaluate the constitutional safeguards provided for the protection of minorities in Canada.
  4. Describe the patterns of the Canadian economic development and its trade policy.
  5. Write short notes on:

a)The relations between House of Commons and Senate.

b)Canadian Aid Programme in India.

EUROPEAN UNION IN WORLD AFFAIRS (MPSE-011)

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

TMA

Course Code: MPSE-011

Assignment Code: ASST/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION-I

  1. Examine the reasons and process that led to the formation of European Union.
  2. Describe the main features of a Single Market and its effects on European Union members.
  3. How did the Amsterdam Treaty emphasise on citizenship, rights of individuals and extension of democracy? Explain.
  4. Examine the major implications of a single currency in Europe for India.
  5. Write short notes on:
  6. European Central Bank
  7. Confederalism

SECTION-II

  1. Analyse the United Kingdom’s position on the question of European unity in the post-second World War period.
  2. Examine the major reforms that have been introduced in the Common Agricultural Policy of European Union.
  3. Examine the factors responsible for the development of European Security and Defence Policy.
  4. Critically examine European Union’s stand on issues before WTO.
  5. Write short notes on:
  6. Turkish membership of EU
  7. India-EU cooperation in combating terrorism.

STATE AND SOCIETY IN AUSTRALIA (MPSE-012)

Tutor Marked Assignment

Course Code : MPSE 012

Assignment Code : Asst/TMA/2013-14

Marks : 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION- I

1.Briefly explain the main physiological features of the Australian continent.

2.Critically examine the social impact of the Australian colonial policy towards the aborigines.

3.Discuss immigration, formation of identity and citizenship rights in Australia.-

4.Describe the role and powers of the Australian Senate as stated in its Constitution.

5.Examine the working of Federalism in Australia.

SECTION-II

6.Write a short note on the following in your own words:

a)Minor parties in Australia

b)Pressure Groups in Australia

7.Comment on the following:

a)Australian economy in the era of Globalisation

b)Restructuring Australian economy since 1980’s.

8.Write a short note on the following:

a)Multiculturalism in Australia

b)Self-determination

9.Write note on the following:

a)Women in Politics and Government

b)Citizenship in Australia

10.Comment on the following:

a)Indian Diaspora in Australia

b)White Australia Policy.

AUSTRALIAS FOREIGN POLICY (MPSE-013)

Tutor Marked Assignment

Course Code: MPSE-013

Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2013-14

Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 (250+250) words. Each question carries 20 (10+10) marks.

SECTION I

1.Examine the changing trends in the Australian foreign policy.

2.Explain the different societal factors that influence foreign policy making inAustralia.

3.Explain Australia’s contribution towards a strong role based multilateral trading system of the WTO.

4.Examine the challenges facing Australia in respect of its trade and investment in the era of globalization.

  1. How did Chinas Open Door policy have an impact on its economic ties with Australia?

SECTION-II

6.Briefly describe:

a)India-Australia Economic Relations

b)Australia’s role in America’s War against International Terrorism.

7.Write a short note on the following:

a)Australia and its neighbours in the South Pacific

b)China’s open door policy and its economic ties with Australia.

8.Comment on the following:

a)Immigration to Australia

b)Environmental movements in Australia

9.Write a note on the following:

a)Regional Trade patterns in Australia

b)India-Australian relations

10.Comment on the following:

a)Human Rights issue in Australia

b)Australia’s place in the Nuclear Arms Role

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES (MED-002)

Tutor Marked Assignment