Topic wise Previous Year Questions (Solved) : Political Theory | PSIR Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Q1: Write approximately 150 words on Behavioural approach to Political Science. (2024)

Ans: The behavioural approach in political science, emerging in the mid-20th century, focuses on studying political phenomena through empirical observation and scientific methods, emphasizing individual and group behavior over abstract theories. It seeks to make political science more scientific, using tools like surveys and statistical analysis to understand voting patterns, decision-making, and power dynamics. For instance, studies on voter behavior in India’s elections reveal how caste and regional identities influence choices. Its strength lies in objectivity and data-driven insights, as seen in analyzing public opinion on policies like India’s demonetization. However, it faced criticism for ignoring normative values, historical contexts, and qualitative aspects, such as the ideological roots of India’s Constitution. By reducing politics to measurable behaviors, it often overlooked broader social structures. Despite limitations, the behavioural approach remains relevant, complementing other methods to enrich political analysis with empirical rigor.

Q2: Elucidate the meanings inherent in the term ‘political’ with appropriate illustrations. (2024)

Ans: The term ‘political’ encompasses activities, processes, and institutions related to power, governance, and decision-making within a society. It reflects how individuals and groups interact to allocate resources, resolve conflicts, and shape collective life, making it central to understanding human societies. In diverse contexts like India, the term carries multiple dimensions, each illustrating its complexity.

• Power and Authority: The political involves exercising power, as seen in India’s parliamentary system, where elected leaders make laws, reflecting legitimate authority.
• Conflict and Cooperation: It includes managing disputes and fostering collaboration. The Ayodhya dispute resolution through judicial and political dialogue exemplifies balancing competing interests.
• Public Policy and Governance: Political processes shape policies, like India’s Swachh Bharat mission, addressing public welfare through state action.
• Participation and Representation: The political involves citizens’ engagement, evident in India’s vibrant elections, where millions vote to influence governance.

The term ‘political’ also extends to informal arenas, like social movements in India advocating for gender equality, challenging power structures. Critics argue it can be manipulative, as seen in populist rhetoric, but it remains essential for societal organization.

The multifaceted nature of the political underscores its role in shaping equitable and inclusive societies, driving both conflict and progress in governance. 

Q3: Comment on decline of political theory. (2023)

Ans: The decline of political theory, often debated in the mid-20th century, refers to a perceived reduction in its relevance due to the rise of empirical and scientific approaches like behaviouralism. Scholars like Alfred Cobban argued that political theory, rooted in normative questions of justice, equality, and governance, was overshadowed by a focus on measurable data and political behavior. The emphasis on objectivity, seen in studies of voting patterns in the US, sidelined philosophical inquiries into the state’s purpose or ethical governance. In India, this shift was evident in post-independence policy studies prioritizing development over ideological debates. However, critics argue this decline was exaggerated, as political theory persisted in addressing contemporary issues like democracy and rights, evident in India’s constitutional debates. The rise of post-behaviouralism and normative revival, as seen in Rawls’ justice theory, suggests political theory remains vital, adapting to modern challenges while retaining its philosophical core.

Q4: Comment on normative approach in political science. (2023)

Ans: The normative approach in political science focuses on evaluating political systems, institutions, and actions based on ethical principles, values, and ideals like justice, liberty, and equality. Unlike empirical approaches, it asks ‘what ought to be’ rather than ‘what is,’ emphasizing moral foundations of governance. For example, India’s Constitution reflects normative principles by prioritizing equality and social justice through affirmative action. Thinkers like John Rawls, with his theory of justice, exemplify this approach, advocating fair distribution of resources. Its strength lies in guiding policy and inspiring change, as seen in India’s women’s reservation debates. However, critics argue it lacks objectivity, relying on subjective values, and may disconnect from practical realities, like implementing idealistic policies in resource-scarce contexts. Despite this, the normative approach remains crucial, shaping political discourse and ensuring governance aligns with ethical goals, complementing empirical methods in comprehensive political analysis.

Q5: ‘Credo of Relevance’ in post behavioralism advocates the importance of action science. Analyze. (2023)

Ans: The ‘Credo of Relevance’ in post-behaviouralism, emerging in the 1960s, critiques the behavioural approach’s overemphasis on scientific neutrality, advocating an action-oriented political science that addresses real-world problems. It emphasizes relevance to societal needs, promoting an ‘action science’ that bridges theory and practice, particularly in turbulent times like the Vietnam War or India’s post-emergency period.

• Action-Oriented Research: Post-behaviouralism urges political scientists to tackle pressing issues like poverty or inequality. In India, studies on caste-based reservations reflect this, aiming to influence policy.
• Normative Engagement: It reintegrates values, advocating for justice and democracy. For instance, analyzing India’s electoral reforms to enhance inclusivity aligns with this credo.
• Practical Solutions: Action science seeks applicable outcomes, like designing decentralized governance models in India’s Panchayati Raj system to empower local communities.

Critics argue this approach risks bias, diluting scientific rigor, as seen when ideological agendas overshadow evidence in policy debates. Nonetheless, its focus on relevance has revitalized political science, making it responsive to societal challenges, as evident in India’s policy research on climate change.

The Credo of Relevance strengthens political science’s role as a tool for social change, balancing empirical rigor with actionable, value-driven solutions. 

Q6: Write on the Systems Approach. (2022)

Ans: The systems approach, developed by David Easton, is a framework in political science that views political systems as dynamic entities processing inputs (demands and supports) into outputs (policies and decisions) to maintain stability. It emphasizes interdependence among political institutions, offering a holistic way to study politics, especially in complex societies like India.

• Inputs and Outputs: Demands (e.g., public calls for welfare in India) and supports (e.g., votes) are processed into policies, like the MGNREGA scheme, ensuring system functionality.
• Feedback Mechanism: Outputs influence future inputs, creating a cycle. For example, India’s Right to Education Act feedback shapes public expectations for further reforms.
• Environment Interaction: Political systems interact with social, economic, and global environments, as seen in India’s foreign policy responding to global trade dynamics.

The approach’s strength lies in its comprehensive analysis, capturing India’s federal structure’s complexity. However, critics argue it overlooks individual agency and ideological conflicts, like caste-based politics in India, and can be overly abstract. Despite limitations, it remains relevant for studying governance and policy processes.

The systems approach provides a structured lens to understand political dynamics, aiding analysis of governance in diverse and evolving political contexts. 

Q7: Examine the importance of behavioural approach in political theory. What led to its decline? (2021)

Ans: The behavioural approach in political theory, prominent in the mid-20th century, emphasizes empirical, scientific study of political behavior using methods like surveys and statistical analysis. It aimed to make political science objective, focusing on observable actions like voting or decision-making, significantly influencing modern political analysis, including in India.

• Empirical Rigor: It introduced data-driven insights, such as studies on India’s electoral behavior revealing regional voting patterns, enhancing predictive accuracy.
• Interdisciplinary Methods: Borrowing from psychology and sociology, it enriched analysis, as seen in examining group dynamics in India’s coalition politics.
• Decline Factors: Its neglect of normative questions, like justice or ethics, led to criticism for being value-neutral. In India, it struggled to address ideological debates, such as secularism.

The approach declined due to post-behaviouralism’s rise, which emphasized relevance and action, and the resurgence of normative theories addressing global crises like civil rights movements. In India, the approach’s focus on measurable data overlooked cultural nuances, like caste identities. Despite this, its legacy persists in empirical political research.

The behavioural approach revolutionized political science with scientific methods but declined due to its limited scope, paving the way for more holistic approaches. 

Q8: Discuss the significance of normative approach to Political theory. (2020)

Ans: The normative approach in political theory focuses on exploring what political systems and actions ought to be, based on ethical principles like justice, equality, and liberty. It contrasts with empirical approaches by prioritizing values and ideals, shaping political thought and policy, especially in diverse democracies like India.

• Ethical Guidance: It provides moral frameworks for governance. India’s Constitution, emphasizing social justice through reservations, reflects normative ideals of equality.
• Inspiring Change: Normative theories motivate reforms, as seen in India’s women’s empowerment movements advocating for gender equity based on fairness principles.
• Critical Evaluation: It critiques existing systems, like questioning authoritarian tendencies in India’s emergency period (1975-77), promoting democratic accountability.

Critics argue the approach is subjective, as values vary across cultures, and may lack practical applicability in resource-constrained settings like rural India. Nonetheless, thinkers like Rawls and Amartya Sen have shown its relevance in addressing global and local inequalities. The normative approach complements empirical studies, ensuring political theory remains relevant to societal aspirations.

By focusing on ideals, the normative approach enriches political theory, guiding societies toward just and equitable governance structures. 

Q9: Comment: Resurgence of the political theory (150 words) (2019)

Ans: The resurgence of political theory since the late 20th century reflects its renewed relevance in addressing complex global and local challenges. After a perceived decline during the behavioural era, which prioritized empirical data, political theory regained prominence through normative and critical approaches tackling issues like justice, democracy, and identity. Thinkers like John Rawls, with his theory of justice, and feminist scholars like Iris Young, emphasized ethical governance, influencing policies worldwide. In India, political theory informs debates on secularism, caste justice, and federalism, as seen in constitutional amendments for reservations. The rise of post-behaviouralism, advocating action-oriented research, further revitalized theory by linking it to real-world problems like climate change or inequality. This resurgence highlights political theory’s ability to adapt, offering frameworks to navigate contemporary crises while retaining its philosophical depth, ensuring its continued significance in political discourse.

Q10: Comment in 150 words: Decline of Political Theory. (2018)

Ans: The decline of political theory, noted in the mid-20th century, stemmed from the rise of behaviouralism, which prioritized empirical, scientific analysis over normative and philosophical inquiries. Scholars like David Easton argued that political theory, focused on abstract concepts like justice or sovereignty, lacked precision compared to data-driven studies of voting or policy outcomes. In India, this shift was evident in post-independence research emphasizing development metrics over ideological debates. The focus on observable behavior, as in US election studies, marginalized questions of ethical governance. However, this decline was contested, as political theory persisted in addressing democracy and rights, notably in India’s constitutional framework. The resurgence of normative theories, like Rawls’ work on justice, and post-behaviouralism’s call for relevance, revived political theory’s significance, proving its decline was temporary and exaggerated, adapting to modern challenges.