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GS QUESTION...... Substantiate, with examples, the view that the Indian Constitution is a hallmark of rigid and flexible constitution. How has this rigidity and flexibility helped the Indian Constitution for more than seven decades, while many other decolonised countries have either replaced or subverted their respective constitutions?

2021-04-20T14:12:00.003+05:30

Question.. Substantiate, with examples, the view that the Indian Constitution is a hallmark of rigid and flexible constitution. How has this rigidity and flexibility helped the Indian Constitution for more than seven decades, while many other decolonised countries have either replaced or subverted their respective constitutions?

POINTS -

I. Rigid & flexible feature of constitution

II. Features & nature of amendments of constitution

III. Features of Balance of change & continuity

IV. Conclusion

ANSWER -

Based upon the provisions made for its amendment, a constitution can be flexible or rigid or a mixture of both. A flexible constitution can be amended by ordinary law-making exercise, while a rigid constitution can be amended by a very difficult and special procedure. As regards to Indian constitution, it strikes a balance between rigidity and flexibility.

Features and Nature of Amendments to the Constitution

flexible constitution:

The Parliament can alter or modify many of the laws by a simple majority as required for ordinary legislation. For example, the creation or abolition of Legislative Councils through Article 169, changing the name of states, boundaries,, etc.

rigid constitution:

• The amendments to certain features affecting the federal structure of Indian state requires special majority with ratification of more than 50% of states. For example, the election of the President and its manner, the Supreme Court and High Courts, distribution of legislative power between centre and state, seventh schedule, etc.

semi-rigid constitution:

• Certain issues require parliamentary approval by not less than 2/3rd of the members giving it a semi-rigid approach.

• This rigidity and flexibility has helped Indian Constitution for more than seven decades while as constitutions many other decolonised countries have either replaced or subverted, which could be seen through following examples:

Pakistan: The rigid constitution has made it easy for parochial tendencies and army dominance in the polity of the nation resulting in change in democracy to military rule from time to time.

Conclusion:

Thus, it is the balance of flexibility and rigidity which has made the Indian constitution sustainable over seven decades due to its ability to change and continue with the changing needs. The institutions of democracy should ensure that this healthy balance is continued in nation’s polity through the mechanisms of balance of power, separation of powers and checks and balances among themselves

Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2020

2020-12-30T00:11:00.002+05:30

Vacancies :

Tentative vacancies for the examination are: 6506 (Group ‘B’ Gazetted-250, Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted-3513, Group ‘C’-2743).

Essential Educational Qualifications -

Essential Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or Institute.

The candidates appearing in the final year of their graduation can also apply, however they must possess Essential qualification on or before 01-01-2021.

Dates for submission of online applications: 29-12-2020 to 31-01-2021

Last date and time for receipt of online applications: 31-01-2021 (23:30)

Last date and time for making online fee payment: 02-02-2021 (23:30)

Last date and time for generation of offline Challan: 04-02-2021 (23:30)

Last date for payment through Challan (during working hours of Bank): 06-02-2021 Schedule of Computer Based Examination (Tier-I): 29-05-2021 to 07-06-2021

Date of Tier-II Examination (Descriptive Paper): To be notified later

9.1 How to apply:

Applications must be submitted only in online mode at the official website of SSC Headquarter i.e. https://ssc.nic.in For detailed instructions, please refer to Annexure-III and Annexure-IV. Sample proforma of One-time Registration and online Application Form are attached as Annexure-IIIA and Annexure-IVA respectively.

9.2

In the online Application Form, candidates are required to upload the scanned colour passport size photograph in JPEG format (20 KB to 50 KB). The photograph should not be more than three months old from the date of publication of the Notice of Examination, and, the date on which the photograph has been taken should be clearly printed on the photograph. Applications without such date printed on the photograph will be rejected. Image dimension of the photograph should be about 3.5 cm (width) x 4.5 cm (height). The photograph should be without cap, spectacles and both ears should be visible.

9.3 Last date and time for submission of online applications is 31-01-2021 (23:30).

9.4 Candidates are advised in their own interest to submit online applications much before the closing date and not to wait till the last date to avoid the possibility of disconnection/ inability or failure to login to the SSC website on account of heavy load on the website during the closing days.

9.5

The Commission will not be responsible for the candidates not being able to submit their applications within the last date on account of the aforesaid reasons or for any other reason beyond the control of the Commission.

9.6 Before submission of the online application, candidates must check that they have filled correct details in each field of the form. After submission of the online application form, no change/ correction/ modification will be allowed under any circumstances. Requests received in this regard in any form like Post, Fax, Email, by hand, etc. shall not be entertained.

10 Application Fee: 10.1 Fee payable: Rs 100/- (Rs one hundred only).

10.2 Women candidates and candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and Ex-servicemen (ESM) eligible for reservation are exempted from payment of fee.

10.3 Fee can be paid online through BHIM UPI, Net Banking or by using Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, RuPay Credit or Debit cards or in cash at SBI Branches by generating SBI Challan.

10.4 Online fee can be paid by candidates up to 02-02-2021 (23:30 hours). However, candidates who wish to make cash payment through the challan of SBI, may make payment in cash at the Branches of SBI within the working hours of bank up to 06-02-2021 provided the challan has been generated by them before 04-02-2021 (23:30 hours).

10.5 Candidates who are not exempted from fee payment must ensure that their fee has been deposited with SSC. If the fee is not received by SSC, status of the Application Form is shown as ‘Incomplete’ and this information is printed on the top of the printout of online Application Form. Further, status of fee payment can be verified at the ‘Payment Status” link provided in the candidate’s login screen. Such applications which remain incomplete due to non-receipt of fee will be SUMMARILY REJECTED and no request for consideration of such applications and fee payment after the period specified in the Notice of Examination shall be entertained.

10.6 Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances nor will it be adjusted against any other examination or selection.

Scheme of the Examination:

12.1 The Examination will be conducted in four tiers as indicated below: 12.1.1 12.1.2 12.1.3 12.1.4

Tier-I: Computer Based Examination Tier-II: Computer Based Examination

Tier-III: Pen and Paper Mode (Descriptive paper)

Tier-IV: Computer Proficiency Test/ Data Entry Skill Test (wherever applicable).

12.2 Marks scored by candidates in Computer Based Examinations, if conducted in multiple shifts, will be normalized by using the formula published by the Commission through Notice No: 1-1/2018-P&P-I dated 07-02-2020 and such normalized scores will be used to determine final merit and cut-off marks.

12.3 Tentative Answer Keys of the Computer Based Examinations will be placed on the website of the Commission after the Examination. Candidates may go through the Answer Keys and submit online representations, if any, within the stipulated time limit on payment of Rs 100/- per question. Representations received through any other mode e.g. letter, application, email, etc. will not be entertained. Representation regarding the Answer Keys will be scrutinized before finalizing the Answer Keys and the decision of the Commission in this regard will be final.

12.4 The dates of examinations indicated in the Notice are tentative. Any change in the schedule of examinations will be informed to candidates only through the website of the Commission.

12.5 In the question papers, wherever necessary, the Metric systems of weights and measures will be used.

12.6 There shall be no provision for re-evaluation/ re-checking of the scores. No correspondence in this regard shall be entertained.

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2020-12-28T10:11:00.000+05:30

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Upsc prelims result

2020-10-23T23:16:00.000+05:30

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PSIR QUESTION ...25. Compare classical realism with structural realism. Do you think realism is a scientific explanation of international politics?

2019-10-24T10:44:00.002+05:30

Today's question.... Compare classical realism with structural realism. Do you think realism is a scientific explanation of international politics?

Points -

Give a brief introduction about realism
Briefly explain classical and structural realism
Discuss similarities and differences between the two traditions
Conclude first part on following lines
Evaluate the realist claim of its theory as scientific

Answer -

●Give a brief introduction about realism Academic study of international relations is overwhelmingly a debate about realism. Different schools of thought define themselves and their contribution through realism. Realism is not a single theory. Great diversity and divergences exist between its various sub-schools. However all realists tend to converge of four central propositions: 1. Group-ism: Politics takes place between and within groups. Today the most important groups are nation-states and the most important source of in-groupism is nationalism;

2. Egoism: Individuals and nations are driven principally by narrow self-interest. 3. Anarchy: Absence of world government shapes nature of global politics. It makes IR a qualitatively distinct domain of political action.

4. Power politics: The egoistic groups interacting in an environment of anarchy make IR largely a politics of power and security.

●Briefly explain classical and structural realism Classical realism is the name given to all the contribution made by scholars before publication of Kenneth Waltz’s “Theory of International Politics” in 1979. Most notable text in it was HANS MORGENTHAU’s “Politics Among Nations” (1948). The central argument of classical realism is that the behaviour of the state is a reflection of the egoistic human nature. This makes international politics necessarily as power politics. Structural realism emerged in 1970’s with publication of WALTZ’s book in 1979. Structural realists were critical of ‘early’ realism, as according to them, it was not a scientific analysis of international politics. Inspired by systems theory, neorealism sought to explain the behaviour of the states in terms of the structure of the international system. ●Discuss similarities and differences between the two traditions Structural realists borrow some elements of classical realism as a starting point – e.g. independent states existing and operating in a system of international anarchy. However, it is a significant departure from classical realist tradition on many important accounts. Most importantly, structural realists give no account of human nature and don’t attribute struggle for power between states to human nature. Instead, they ascribe it to structure of international system, which compels the states to act in self-interest and rely on selfhelp for their security and survival.

Another difference is with respect to role of human agency. Waltz’s structural realism is deterministic. He believes that great powers manage the international system automatically, as the system compels them to act in a way to uphold national interests. Therefore he places no regard to human agency in decision-making. Classical realists, on the other hand, argue that the statespersons ought to manage the international system properly to maintain international order. They can be criticized when they fail to manage it properly.

Conclude first part on following lines Both the traditions have made important contributions in the theoretical development of the realist school of thought. However, in order to provide more complete explanation of international politics, there has been an attempt to fuse systems analysis of structural realism with a unit-level approach of classical realism within one analytical framework. This approach has been called as neo-classical realism or post-neorealism.

● Evaluate the realist claim of its theory as scientific Influenced by positivism of interwar period, post war realists, especially since Morgenthau’s book, have tried to frame an objective and scientific theory of international politics, which is value-free and based on empirical analysis of data and facts. Morgenthau believed objective laws, rooted in unchanging human nature, governed politics, like society in general. Kenneth Waltz tried to use systems theory in order to rid the realist analysis from normative issues like national interests and state security. However the realist claim of successfully constructing a scientific theory has been contested by post-positivist schools of thought like social constructivists, poststructuralists and feminists.

The social constructivists argue that pure, objective observation of ‘facts’ is not possible. ‘Reality’ is not external to the observer: there are thousand ways of looking at the real world. IR theorists are an integrated part of the world they study. In that sense, theorists are insiders, not outsiders. The post-structuralists/post-modernists provide the strongest criticism of the positivist methodology adopted by realism. Knowledge is not, and can’t be neutral. Realists make certain assumptions and create certain images of reality. We always need to critically discuss the assumptions and claims made by any theory, because there is no single, final

truth ‘out there’ that can be ‘discovered’. This post-modernist attitude is defined as ‘incredulity towards meta-narratives’ in the words of LYOTARD. Inspired by post-positivist approach, the feminists are also critical of he possibility of finding a universal and objective foundation for knowledge, which realists like Morgenthau claims is possible. They believe that knowldege is socially constructed: since it is language that transmits knowledge, the use of language and its claims to objectivity must continually be questioned. Scholars like EVELYN FOX KELLER argue that objectivity itself is associated with masculinity. J. ANN TICKNER in her work ‘Hans Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism: A feminist reformulation’ (1988) claimed that Morgenthau while giving his 6 principles of political realism uses a vocabulary that contains many of the words associated with masculinity. She reformulated Hans Morgenthau’s six principles of political realism to show how seemingly objective laws in fact reflect male values, rather than female ones.

PSIR QUESTION ...32 . What are the institutional weaknesses in the Ministry of external affairs? Give suggestions to reform the ministry.

2019-10-21T22:20:00.001+05:30

Today's question...What are the institutional weaknesses in the Ministry of external affairs? Give suggestions to reform the ministry.

Points -

Write briefly about MEA
Give the institutional weaknesses
Give suggestions to reform the ministry
Conclude

Answer -

●Write briefly about MEA Ministry of External Affairs of India is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India. The Ministry comes under Government of India and is responsible for the country's representation in the United Nations. It also advises other Ministries and State Governments when the latter have dealings with foreign governments or institutions.

●Give the institutional weaknesses MEA has a little over 900 diplomats, far fewer than Brazil (1,200), the UK (6,000) and the US’ State Department, which has over 20,000 diplomats. Pallavi Raghvan adds that the ministry can at best handle a couple of major challenges at a time. It handles crises well whereby it concentrates resources for urgent issues like nuclear negotiations, a consular problem or a major summit — but other areas like Africa or Southeast Asia then slip down in priority. Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (2014-2015) recommended: “The Ministry must engage with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and impress upon them about the urgency of providing more staff, including through recruitment from other cadres and the academic and private sector, as per the specialized needs of the Ministry. Recruitment on contract basis from individuals with academic or private sector experience that is directly relevant to urgent needs should be permitted.” The report recognises in equal measure that simply being fluent in English is not enough. It notes that among the 770 IFS officers in service, only 569 are fluent in a foreign language — a factor that can be detrimental to diplomacy in countries where language can be a major barrier, as in China. Recently, Commerce Ministry’s proposal to create a separate cadre of commercial counsellors in key Indian missions shows ineffectiveness of MEA.

●Give suggestions to reform the ministry Shashi Tharoor-helmed Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs's latest report gave several recommendations like more eminent persons who have excelled in the field of community affairs, diaspora issues, foreign policy, area studies, literature, journalism etc should be considered for appointments as ambassadors/high commissioners. Report suggests that the long-overdue cadre review be conducted immediately. Also, experts from academia and the private sector should be enlisted and deployed across important divisions. Their role as consultants or advisors, it is believed, will not only add expertise, but also boost numbers. A policy must be implemented that aligns at least half of all foreign postings with the language in which officers are fluent. Additionally, a month's training in terms of language, culture, society and customs must be provided before anyone is posted overseas. Another suggestion is to add a course of mid-career training to equip officers with expertise that builds on their existing knowledge bases. The aim of this endeavour is to create a certain amount of "specialised domain knowledge instead of exclusive specialisations".

●Conclude on following lines The implementation of these recommendations will certainly boost India's diplomatic strength and its global standing in lieu with the energetic programme of foreign outreach New Delhi is undertaking.

PSIR QUESTION... 31. How India can and why India must shape Asia's future political order

2019-10-21T22:19:00.000+05:30

Today's question....How India can and why India must shape Asia's future political order?

Points --

Give the importance of Asia
Explain why India must shape Asia’s future political order
Tell how India can shape Asia’s future political order
Conclusion

Answer -

●Give the importance of Asia As one of the world’s oldest continuing civilisations, India has always been enriched by its interaction with other cultures and civilisations around it. As India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru told the delegates to the 1947 Asian Relations Conference in Delhi, India is “so situated to be the meeting point of western and northern and eastern and southeast Asia. Streams of culture have flowed from India to distant parts of Asia". If the idea of a culturally interconnected Asia animated the Indian national movement, the hopes of constructing an “Asian Federation” emerged as an aspiration on the international stage.

According to C Raja Mohan, the fact is that the scale, scope and intensity of its connectivity with Asia varied over the millennia. There have been periods of expansive engagement with its neighbouring regions, interspersed by centuries of isolationism. Nehru’s own stewardship of independent India saw Delhi intensely embrace Asia only to turn its back on it soon after. Today, integrating with Asia has once again become a major theme of India’s economic and foreign policies

●Explain why India must shape Asia’s future political order Asian nations are now more economically connected than ever before. They are striving to deepen regional integration through trade liberalisation agreements at the sub-regional, trans-regional and international levels. In the middle of the 20th century, regionalism ran into opposition in Asia from those emphasising ‘economic sovereignty.’ Today Asian nations have the luxury of dealing with competing trade pacts. The region today is no longer a mere theatre for European colonial powers. It is the motor of global growth and has agency in shaping the world’s financial and political order. If the reviled Vasco da Gama moment has ended in Asia, the region is also facing sharp internal divisions. The rapid rise of China relative to the other powers in Asia has raised big questions about the future strategic order in Asia. China has overtaken Japan to become the second largest economy in the world and is poised to surpass the US in the near future. The widespread hopes for Beijing’s peaceful rise have evaporated amidst the sharpening maritime territorial conflicts between China and its neighbours.

As Asia enters a period of great churning, the question of India’s role in the region has become an important one. India’s Look East policy came in the wake of its economic reforms initiated at the turn of the 1990s was not surprising. Reconnecting to Asia, Delhi recognised, was critical for the modernisation of the Indian economy that had fallen behind the rest of the region and to rejuvenate its foreign policy in the new era. Since then, India has made considerable advances in connecting with Asia. It is now part of the major regional institutions, has growing economic and trade links and has stepped up its security cooperation with most Asian nations. Yet, there is a widespread sense of disappointment in Asia with India’s recent record in the East. Asia’s regional dynamic—in economic, political and strategic domains— has moved much faster than Delhi's readiness to adapt.

●Tell how India can shape Asia’s future political order In words of C Raja Mohan, Asia today hopes that the ‘Act East’ policy unveiled by the government of Narendra Modi will bridge the gap between India’s promise and performance. To meet the regional expectations for leadership, India will need to accelerate its internal economic reforms, deepen its integration with its South Asian neighbours, seize the opportunities for strengthening physical connectivity with different parts of Asia, play a more active role in the regional institutions and intensify its defence diplomacy.

Harsh Pant talks about greater cooperation with likeminded countries in the region and beyond will give it greater space to emerge as a credible regional interlocutor at a time when Washington’s policies remain far from clear and Beijing is challenging the foundations of the extant order.

●Conclude on following lines Delhi cannot afford to miss the unprecedented opportunity to accelerate Asia’s march towards prosperity or disavow the historic responsibility to shape its future political order. Recently held Raisina Dialogue upheld India’s activism where in words of Foreign Secretary, a lot of our diplomacy over the years has been dedicated to making economic revival of Asia possible. Our commitment to that approach remains firm. Today, as India’s capabilities and influence grow, they are naturally on offer to this longstanding endeavour.

PSIR QUESTION... 30. What is the relationship between regionalism and globalization? Is regionalism a stepping stone or a stumbling block?

2019-10-21T22:11:00.000+05:30

Today's question... What is the relationship between regionalism and globalization? Is regionalism a stepping stone or a stumbling block?

Points -

Define regionalism & globalization
Explain the relationship between them
Give conclusion

Answer -

●Define regionalism & globalization Regionalism and globalisation are two very different concepts: yet they inevitably work together. In international relations, regionalism is the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose combined with the creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective action within a geographical region. Anthony Giddens defines globalisation as the intensification of worldwide social relations linking distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many thousands of miles away and vice versa.

●Explain the relationship between them Regional economic blocs have tended to be formed in part because of the impact of globalisation on the economic independence of states. As borders have become porous and economic sovereignty has declined, states have been inclined to work more closely with other states in the same region. In short, regionalism is inevitably linked with globalisation. Whilst globalisation is the increased interdependence of states: regionalism allows this dependence.

Regionalism neither challenges nor fully builds on Globalisation, rather Regionalism represents a stepping-stone on the way to Globalisation; that it offers what one might call a ‘safer’ version of Globalisation – providing the benefits of inter-state trade and exchange while at the same time offering more protection than those states would experience in the global market.

The technological revolution that was brought about by Globalisation definitely forms a vital basis for Regionalism to flourish. Had it not been for the greater ease with which states and individuals can nowadays communicate with each other or send and receive information, it would have been difficult if not impossible to form regional institutions of scale, like the European Union, for example. Moreover, the fact that suddenly due to Globalisation “developments in one region inform and indeed feed into developments in others” has also definitely increased the desire and/or the need for regional cooperation of some sort. So, in a way, it could be argued that regionalism emerges in response to globalisation and that thus Regionalism partly builds on Globalisation.

●Conclude on following lines Regionalism does not challenge Globalisation, but rather regional cooperation is certainly a good preparation for an open international economy. But what is more important about “the relationship between “the one world of the international system and the many worlds of different regionalisms” is the purpose that Regionalism serves to the businesses and organisations of a regional institution’s member states. Since Regionalism is concerned with an increase in political and economic cooperation based on shared interests, norms and values in a certain region, this makes it possible for large companies to expand and train for world competition.

PSIR QUESTION... 28. Discuss the progress towards the improvement of status of woman since the adoption of Beijing action plan.

2019-10-21T22:00:00.000+05:30

today's question..... Discuss the progress towards the improvement of status of woman since the adoption of Beijing action plan.

Points -

Describe Beijing Action Plan
Discuss the progress happened over the years
Give conclusion

Answer -

●Describe Beijing Action Plan “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action” was a resolution adopted by the UN at the end of the

Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995. The resolution adopted to promulgate a set of principles concerning the equality of men and women.

●Discuss the progress happened over the years In 2015, Beijing + 20 review meeting was held in New York to review the 20 years implementation at National and regional level and to decide Post-2015 action for gender equality. The progress as discussed in the meeting was mixed with several positives with hosts of concerns remaining. Many women survive on less than $2 a day and the problem of feminization of poverty is still persistent. At primary school, girl-students have increased but there are increased drop-outs and it is needed to ensure that they continue till high-school and gradually receive vocational training. Only then, education will improve economic conditions of women.

Migrant women are not given basic labour rights such as union-formation and collective bargaining. There are also rising cases of HIV in females. The police and judicial officers still behave with genderstereotype mindset as patriarchy runs deep in society. Maternal Mortality ratio has declined in Asia, female life expectancy has improved. But challenges still remain like shortage of birth attendants, family planning, unsafe abortions, etc.

●Conclude on following lines Further steps are needed to improve status of women like Governments should help NGOs and grassroot organizations working for women rights. Age appropriate sex-education is necessary and there is need to improve gender-budgeting mechanism to stop duplication of schemes and ensure accountability on money spent as Gender equality is prerequisite to sustainable Development.

PSIR QUESTION.. 29. Critically examine the justification of democratic peace theory. Give suggestion to make world order more democratic.

2019-10-21T21:54:00.001+05:30

Today's question....Critically examine the justification of democratic peace theory. Give suggestion to make world order more democratic.

Points -

Briefly explain democratic peace theory
Give points both in favor & against the theory
Give suggestions to make world order more democratic
Give conclusion.

Answer -

Briefly explain democratic peace theory Democratic peace theory pioneered by US Scholar Michael Doyle is a theory which posits that democracies are hesitant to engage in armed conflict with other identified democracies. In contrast to theories explaining war engagement, it is a "theory of peace" outlining motives that dissuade statesponsored violence.

Give points both in favor & against the theory Study by J.L. Ray found that democracies are more likely to ally with one another than with other states,

forming alliances which are likely to last longer than alliances involving non-democracies. Spencer R. Weart says that democracies conduct diplomacy differently and in a more conciliatory way compared to non-democracies

Schwartz & Skinner however argued that there have been as many wars between democracies as one would expect between any other couple of states. Some call the theory to be formulated for giving legitimacy to Bush Doctrine of democracy at gunpoint. Some authors criticize the definition of democracy by arguing that states continually reinterpret other states' regime types as a consequence of their own objective interests and motives, such as economic and security concerns. Most studies treat the complex concept of "democracy" is a bivariate variable rather than attempting to dimensionalize the concept. Studies also fail to take into account the fact that there are dozens of types of democracy, so the results are meaningless unless articulated to a particular type of democracy or claimed to be true for all types, such as consociational or economic democracy, with disparate datasets.

Give suggestions to make world order more democratic David Held gave an elaborate analysis on how to make the world order more democratic where he suggests democratization of UN Security Council, World Bank, IMF, etc. Establish more Regional Parliaments and introduce referendum to resolve deadlocks. There should be global consensus on necessity of Freedom of speech, press, internet, social media, etc. Strengthening of grass-root democracy in newly independent countries and strengthening of national along with International Judiciary are some of the steps to make the world order more democratic.

Conclude on following lines Like most concepts of Political Science, Democratic Peace theory is also largely contested and there exists significant debate over whether the lack of any major European general wars since 1945, is due to cooperation and integration of liberal-democratic states or an enforced peace due to intervention of the Soviet Union and the United States or a combination of both.

PSIR QUESTION... 27. Examine the relevance of nuclear deterrence in the age of complex interdependence. What is the role of norms in nuclear non-proliferation

2019-10-21T21:40:00.000+05:30

Today's question....Examine the relevance of nuclear deterrence in the age of complex interdependence. What is the role of norms in nuclear non-proliferation?

Points -

Explain nuclear deterrence
Explain complex interdependence
Explain how complex interdependence has rendered nuclear deterrence ineffective
Conclude first part on following lines
Examine the role of norms in nuclear non-proliferation

Answer -

●Explain nuclear deterrence Deterrence is a realist approach to peace. It means discouraging an aggressor to act, by instilling doubt or fear in their mind about the possible consequences of the action. THOMAS SHELLING describes nuclear deterrence as the idea that if there were even a small risk that conventional attack would cause an opponent to escalate to nuclear conflict in response, that risk would deter the conventional attack. Realists consider nuclear deterrence as the most important factor behind the nonoccurrence of Third World War. They argue that the US-USSR rivalry, during the postsecond world war era, largely remained ‘cold’ because of the possession of nuclear weapons by both sides. It deterred aggression because of the logic of ‘mutually assured

destruction’ (MAD). Both realized that in the event of a nuclear war, there would be no ‘winner’. The cost of the ‘victory’ far exceeds the potential ‘benefits’, rendering nuclear war infeasible.

●Explain complex interdependence KEOHANE and NYE Jr. gave the ‘complex interdependence’ theory in late 1970’s in their book “Power and Interdependence” to explain the state of post war world order. The scholars argue that the post-war ‘complex interdependence’ is qualitatively different from earlier and simpler kinds of interdependence, as now international relations is not merely, or even primarily, state-to-state relations as realists believe. Various transnational actors are increasingly playing an important role in driving international relations.

●Explain how complex interdependence has rendered nuclear deterrence ineffective Such structural changes have significant consequences in international politics. The scholars argue that in contrast to the previous era of ‘simpler interdependence’, the ‘low politics’ of economics and social welfare has higher priority over the ‘high politics’ of security and survival under complex interdependence of post war era. Because of this, the military force and nuclear deterrence is a less useful, and even irrelevant, instrument of policy. Power resources, other than military ones are of increasing importance today, for example, negotiating skills. Complex interdependence clearly implies a far more friendly and cooperative relationship among states. According to Keohane and Nye, complex interdependence is most evident in Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand: in short the industrialised, pluralist countries. The relevance of complex interdependence grows as modernisation unfolds, and it is thus especially applicable to the relations between advanced Western countries. Also, in the era of complex interdependence the biggest challenge to security of the states is not from each other. Rather it is from asymmetric actors like global terrorist groups. These groups can’t be deterred through nuclear weapons possessed by powerful states, rendering them ineffective as instruments of state security.

●Conclude first part on following lines Notwithstanding the optimistic and progressive vision that complex interdependence paints, possibility of military conflict and hence nuclear deterrence is not completely irrelevant.

Keohane and Nye have themselves highlighted the continued relevance of realist belief regarding possible conflict among states. They argue, “it is not impossible to imagine dramatic conflict or revolutionary change in which the use of military force over an economic issue or among advanced industrial countries might become plausible. Then realist assumptions would again be reliable guide to events.” For this reason complex interdependence is considered a realist strand in liberal theory. They believe that relations between states cannot be explained through anarchy alone, they are rather in the form of a cobweb. There is a simultaneous existence of cooperation in economic areas while balancing in other strategic areas.

●Examine the role of norms in nuclear non-proliferation Notwithstanding the fact that nuclear weapons continue to be regarded by realists as effective tool of deterrence and security, the nuclear proliferation has been rather slow, while some regions have even resolved to make their region as nuclear-weapons free zone. Social constructivists prescribe the role of taboos, norms and epistemic communities to explain the reason behind nuclear non-proliferation. According to NINA TANNENWALD, nuclear weapons haven’t been used, not only because of the assured mutual destruction, but also because of the role of norms and values. USA could not use nuclear weapons to resolve its conflicts with Vietnam or Iran because of the stigma that has been attached to the use of nuclear weapons. Sigma has acted as moral deterrence. She has mentioned factors for the growth of norms and taboos such as global movements against nuclear weapons, activism by UN, etc. Moreover, norms likes No First Use; no use against non-nuclear weapon states; and the use of nuclear of nuclear weapons as a last resort have also played a role in nuclear non-proliferation. Intellectuals, policy makers have all contributed in the growth of consciousness, evolution of norms and treaties like NPT, which have played a role in stopping nuclear proliferation

PSIR QUESTION... 26. Is the concept of balance of power still relevant in the 21st century? Give arguments in support of your views.

2019-10-21T21:31:00.000+05:30

Today's question 26.. Is the concept of balance of power still relevant in the 21st century? Give arguments in support of your views

Points -

Introduction: Explain the basic concepts related to balance of power
Discuss the relevance of balance of power: Why there is a question mark?
Conclusion:

Answer -

●Introduction: Explain the basic concepts related to balance of power.

Balance of power is considered as fundamental law of International politics at par with Newton’s theory of gravity . Balance of power is based on realist assumptions and is based on the interactions between states in Europe originating gin 17th century Westphalian world order.

Balance of power works in a situation of multi polarity. It is applicable in a regional context. The basic assumptions behind this theory are that international actor is absent, international politics is anarchical, nations are interested in protection of national interest.

For the sake of protection on national interest, nations are ready to go for war. Nobody is allowed to gain preponderance of power. If any actor tries to gain preponderance, other nation states will combine to check the rise of power.

Strategies adopted for balance of power include arms race, alliances, counter alliances, partitioning of territory and creation of a buffer zone.

●Discuss the relevance of balance of power: Why there is a question mark? Liberal scholars since the time of Woodrow Wilson have been sceptical of balance of power as a means for ensuring peace among states. Hence Wilson had proposed collective security as a alternative.

According to liberals, balance of power inoculates against measles but give raise to plague. After the 2nd world war there was rise of bipolarity and emergence of nuclear deterrence. Hence the ideal conditions for the operation of balance of power have ceased to exist.

Scholars like T V Paul, Michael Fortman and John Wirtz in their book titled balance of power: Theory and Practice in 21st century have analysed the relevance of balance of power and have concluded that there is a little possibility of operationalising the traditional balance of power politics because of the emergence of unipolarity against single super power. There is no option of hard balancing and nations can go only for soft balancing. They also mention the concept of asymmetrical balancing by the nation states against non state actors.

●Conclusion: Even though scholars question the relevance in 21st century because of the changed context yet no rational actor can over look the relevance of balance of power as David Hume has suggested that balance of power will remain relevant till the time common sense remain relevant.

PSIR QUESTION... 24. Discuss the evolution on political sociology and what are the strengths and weaknesses of political sociology approach?

2019-10-21T21:13:00.000+05:30

Today's question.. Discuss the evolution on political sociology and what are the strengths and weaknesses of political sociology approach?

Points

Start by defining comparative politics and Political Sociology Approach
Give the evolution of Political Sociology Approach
Give the strength
Give the weaknesses
Conclusion

Answer -

●Start by defining comparative politics and Political Sociology Approach Comparative politics is the study and appraisal of domestic politics across countries. Amongst several approaches, political sociology explores to understand the process of interaction between government and society, decision making authorities and conflicting social forces andinterests. It is the study of interactions and relationships between politics and civilisation; between a political system and its social, economic and cultural environment.

●Give the evolution of Political Sociology Approach Political Sociology can be traced as back to Aristotle’s “Theory of Revolution”, with Machiavelli, Marx, Weber also contributing to it. However, the new avatar of Political Sociology can be related since the Second World War, where western scholars; especially the American scholars were more interested to undertake empirical research of various political phenomena related with sociology. This research activity expanded in the area of sociology. It was comprehended that these novel research findings were neither pure politics nor pure sociology and, therefore, they were ultimately placed under the new title termed as Political sociology. Political sociology is at the juncture of sociology and political science. It addresses issues related to politics, similar to political science. However, it differs from political science in numerous ways. Political sociologists tend to underline the relationships between political institutions and other social institutions and society in general, rather than focusing on political institutions in their own right.

●Give the strength Political sociology approach has broadened the scope of the subject, and helped Political Science over growing displeasure with the nature of traditional studies. Political Sociology approach is both normative and scientific. Sociologists have used surveys, questionnaires and enriched discipline by new findings. Political Sociology has given detailing’s on elite structure in society, and distribution of power prevalent. The studies talk about interaction between class & politics and role of ethnic factors like class, religion, caste, race, etc. Such analysis was previously unfound in traditional studies who were essentially static, ethnocentric and non-comparative. The approach has talked about the phenomenon of revolution, resistance and gave detailed summary on it.

●Give the weaknesses Despite political scientist’s initial enthusiasm towards newly found approach things changed later due to emergence of fear of losing identity of Political Science stream. Scholars were of the view that influence of sociologist elements will make Political Science dependent on society variables. Political Science would henceforth become sub-discipline of sociology. Theda Skocpol even called for "bringing the State back", it meant that for protecting the discipline it was necessary to give centrality to study of State. Political scholars felt that is not always society shaping politics, but also politics shaping society, like in third world countries.

●Conclude on following lines Despite weaknesses, Political sociology offers new panorama in political analysis and gives comprehensive examination of the social organization of politics.

PSIR QUESTION...... 23. Write short note on over developed state.

2019-10-21T21:05:00.000+05:30

Today's question.. Write short note on over developed state.

Points

Define State and give Alavi’s definition of over-developed State
Elaborate on over-developed State
Give conclusion

Answer

●Define State and give Alavi’s definition of over-developed State

Concept of State comprises the core of Political thought. Political thought has been defined as “thought about the State, its structure, its nature, and its purpose”. Hamza Alavi by the theory of over-developed state, gives an account of the vacuum that is present in between the state and society with regards to modernity. There exists a structural mismatch exists between the 'political' and 'social' evolution in post-colonial societies.

●Elaborate on over-developed State Alavi, a Pakistani sociologist applied his Structuralist approach regarding dominance of State in South Asian countries, and talked about the State in 3rd world countries which developed faster than their societies. Their societies remained traditional, while the state became modern or overdeveloped which was unlike seen in West. He further gave the reason for the mismatch by relating it to colonial legacy. Alavi described colonial countries as Bonapartist state, where real power exists with political executive. Since the colonial powers had to protect their colonies and maintain law and order, they established a police state and bureaucracy gained power. When states gained independence, they continued the laws and policies of their masters.They continued the police state on the grounds of protecting their territorial integrity amidst rising secessionist movements which gave legitimacy to their actions.They created this new equilibrium by becoming peace maker and maintained "Homeostasis". Thus the prevailing social and economic conditions of third world societies and their colonial history gave rise to a

different type of political structure distinct from the West which Alavi defined as "Overdeveloped State"

●Conclude on following lines In contemporary times, such “military-bureaucratic oligarchy” persists and various dictatorships

in third world countries reflect the concept of “over-developed state”, and despite tall claims of “Rolling Back of the State” by Neo-liberals, functioning of states prove otherwise.

PSIR QUESTION 22.. Suggest how electoral systems can be made more representative so that democracy doesn't become tyranny of majority?

2019-10-12T15:12:00.000+05:30

Today's question.... Suggest how electoral systems can be made more representative so that democracy doesn't become tyranny of majority

Points -

Start on following lines
Give suggestions on electoral reforms
Conclusion

Answer -

●Start on following lines Democracy can be defined as a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free and fair elections. This fairness is at the very heart of democracy and elections are essential pre-requisites of any successful democracy. However, some scholars have been skeptical of representative democracy in fear of getting transformed into tyranny of majority like Alexis De Tocqueville, JS Mill. Ortega Gasset in her work "Revolt of Masses" also expressed her fear of mobocracy. Representative democracy was seen as apprehensive also by scholars like Almond, Verba. Electoral reform is a broad term that covers, among other things, improving the responsiveness of electoral processes to public desires and expectations.

●Give suggestions on electoral reforms Over the years electoral system has been in reformation swing, with adjustments as per emergence of technology and loopholes to make the system more efficient. However, certain reforms can be introduced to make it more representative to avoid making it become mobocracy. Some of the reforms include: Prescribing a ceiling for political parties’ expenditure, like that for the candidates for ensuring equity in participation, considering state funding of elections with independent audit and a complete ban on private donations to reduce money and muscle power and enhancing representation. Enforcing internal democracy and transparency in the working of the political parties as also suggested by 255th Law Commission Report. Also, to eventually bring them under the RTI. Set up an independent national election fund where all tax-free donations could be made. It could be operated by the ECI or any other independent body. Accept the ECI’s proposal to legally empower it to cancel elections where credible evidence of abuse of money has been found. Debar persons against whom cases of heinous offences are pending in courts from contesting elections. Empower the ECI to de-register those political parties which have not contested any election for 10 years and yet benefited from tax

exemptions. Make paid news an electoral offence with two years’ imprisonment by declaring it a “corrupt practice” (Sec 100 RP Act) and “undue influence” (Sec 123(2)).

●Conclude on following lines Such path-breaking changes can help in improving the quality of democracy and reduced chances of tyranny of majority, mobocracy by making fairness as key ingredient of elections and improving quality of representation.

PSIR QUESTION 21.. What is the relevance of comparative method for political analysis? Explain the limitations of traditional methods.

2019-10-10T18:22:00.000+05:30

Today's question...... What is the relevance of comparative method for political analysis? Explain the limitations of traditional methods.

Points -

Briefly define comparative politics
Give its relevance in political analysis
Give limitations of traditional methods
Conclusion

Answer -

●Briefly define comparative politics Comparative politics is the study and appraisal of domestic politics across countries. Comparative politics has a long and very eminent history dating back just before the origin of systematic political studies in ancient Greece and Rome. Comparative government studies were used by political researchers to get correct and valid conclusions regarding the nature and organisation of state and government. Their major objective was to discover the historical and legal similarities and dissimilarities among the various governments and their political institutions.

●Give its relevance in political analysis Amongst several reasons for relevance of comparative politics in political analysis, some broader ones emerge like: to improve political understanding by allowing self to learn about other countries while escaping the ethnocentric fallacy generally assumed. Some Western country may have a good government but is not necessarily a perfect government; certain countries may have aspects of their own government that one could learn from and perhaps improve upon their own system. Another reason to compare countries is to understand how countries evolve, discover patterns, and why they evolve in the way they do. Another very important reason to study comparative politics is to better understand how certain regimes work for purposes of international relations and foreign policy. In order to create policy regarding other countries and in order to give aid to these countries one must know how these countries function so that one can work with the countries instead of blindly trying to change them in a way that one seems fit.

●Give limitations of traditional methods Comparative Politics can be traced as back as Aristotle’s “Theory of Constitution” where 158 Constitutions were compared and given elaborate analysis. This was traditional approach were area of research was Constitution of Western nations, as Non-West generally included colonies. However, gradually when such colonies started to gain independence, emergence of socialism, communism, fascism, inter-disciplinary nature emerged which made traditional methods unsuitable & showed numerous flaws in understanding. Traditional methods were essentially noncomparative with only few features to compare; the understanding received was parochial or ethnocentric and largely static.

Acc to R C Macridis in study "A survey of Comparative Government", he talked about four major shortcomings of Traditional methods: namely Single Culture Configuration, excessively formalistic in approach, Descriptive, rather than problem solving and essentially noncomparative.

●Conclude on following lines Traditional approach included philosophical approach, historical approach, legal approach, and Institutional approach, but aforementioned limitations led to emergence of modern approach which broadened the study of comparative politics and gave inter-linkages which helped in emergence of separate discipline of Comparative Politics.

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PSIR QUESTION.. 20. Explain the evolution of doctrine of basic structure and what are the criticisms levelled against the doctrine of basic structure?

2019-10-10T18:16:00.000+05:30

Today's question.. Explain the evolution of doctrine of basic structure and what are the criticisms levelled against the doctrine of basic structure?

Points -

Define the doctrine of basic structure
Discuss the evolution of this doctrine
Criticism against such doctrine
Conclusion

Answer -

●Define the doctrine of basic structure The basic structure doctrine is an Indian judicial principle that the Constitution of India has certain basic features that cannot be altered or destroyed through amendments by the parliament. The basic features of the Constitution have not been explicitly defined

by the Judiciary, and the claim of any particular feature of the Constitution to be a "basic" feature is determined by the Court in each case that comes before it.

●Discuss the evolution of this doctrine The evolution of Basic Structure was a long drawn study when in Champakam Dorairajan case (1951) Supreme Court said that "law" word used in 13(2) implies only to ordinary law & not amendment. This restricted scope of Judiciary to review Constitutional Amendment Acts through Article 368. Thereby, Government of India brought 1st Constitutional Amendment Act for Article 15(4). In subsequent case, Shankari Prasad (1951), Supreme Court upheld validity of 1st Constitutional Amendment Act, and said that word "law" doesn’t include 1st Constitutional Amendment Act, and hence no judicial scrutiny of them. Similar interpretation was given in cases till Sajjan Singh case (1965). In Golaknath case (1967) Supreme Court said that Article 368 doesn’t confer power to Parliament to amend Constitution, hence Parliament can't amend Fundamental Rights. In response, Government of India brought 24th Constitutional Amendment Act where 13(4), and 368(3) were amended and it changed title of Article 368 as "Power of amendment" instead of "Procedure of Amendment" which nullified the Golaknath verdict. Eventually, it was in Keshwanand Bharti case (1973) which upheld 24th Constitutional Amendment Act, but established the doctrine of basic structure and said that further Constitutional Amendments may amend anything in Constitution apart from overriding doctrine of basic structure. The Government responded by passing 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act where 368(4), 368(5) were amended to establish that Constitutional Amendment Acts can't be challenged in court of law. Finally in 1980, in Minerwa Mills case, the matter was pushed to rest as it made 368(4), 368(5) null & void. Thus, finally establishing the supremacy of Doctrine of Basic Structure above any subsequent Constitutional Amendments.

●Criticism against such doctrine Doctrine of basic structure has been at the centre-stage of criticism since inception, there was no unanimity in the bench that gave this doctrine. It survived by singleaffirmative vote when in a 13 member bench, 6 members voted against it. Following the criticism, it is said that Judiciary is overlooking the letters of Constitution, and inventing its soul. Thus, going for metaphysical approach Basic structure disturbs the separation of power and establishes judicial sovereignty in place of Constitutional sovereignty. Judiciary is the least representative, most elitist and least accountable body, hence assuming the role of super legislature is unsuitable for democracy which is rule by people. Since the entire spectrum of Basic structure is undefined, it creates uncertainty and discretion which affects working of Executive.

●Conclude on following lines However, Zia Mody has given better understanding of the issue when she accepts that Judiciary was wrong from academic point of view, but the creation of such doctrine was need of the hour as it proved blessing in disguise. This step elevated uncertainty over tyranny and prevented India’s future to go along the authoritarian line as in other 3rd world countries.

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PSIR QUESTION 19.. . Discuss the legacy of British state on the present Indian state.

2019-10-06T15:42:00.001+05:30

Today's question..19. Discuss the legacy of British state on the present Indian state.

Points -

Briefly tell about British rule
Tell the positive legacy of British Rule
Tell the negative legacy of British Rule
Conclusion

Answer

●Briefly tell about British rule British rule on Indian State lasted roughly from 1858 to 1947 where it functioned as the guardian of a system of connected markets maintained by means of military power, business legislation and monetary management.

●Tell the positive legacy of British Rule British rule gave a mix of legacies where few were to cherish about and some to lament over. Some of the positives included English as medium of communication and learning of science. It later became a tool to unify the nation during language controversy of 1950s. An extensive network of dense railways where maximum states were covered by railway tracks and more than 55,000km of lines were laid. Such well laid railways helped in mass mobilization during national movement. Another legacy is establishment of Parliamentary democracy which has been successfully taking forward the Indian way of democracy. British instigated a clear separation between military & civilian government which has not just enabled India to stay as democracy, but become the biggest in the world. The doctrine of Rule of Law is an important component derived from British Rule which was also the guiding factor of Constituent Assembly.

●Tell the negative legacy of British Rule However, British rule was also characterized by drawbacks like creation of Communalism which was hitherto absent in Indian society, which finally culminated into division of India. British followed the policy of “divide and rule” where Hindus were to be divided on basis of caste. They promoted such Casteism by Caste Survey of 1872, and later giving provisions for Separate Electorate to Depressed Classes which was however turned into Joint Electorate. British ruined the economic picture of India by reducing it to supplier of raw material and reducing India’s GDP to 2.5% of the world’s GDP in 1947. British rule needed clerks to run the British administration, thus ruining the Indian education system by promoting rote learning than developing critical reasoning. British in their legacy gave reservation since Government of India Act, 1909 which was eventually extended in subsequent legislations. The story continues till now with such reservation amounting to nearly 50% of total seats in education institutions and public sector employment. British were themselves hugely corrupt and with low salaries granted to Indian workers, it led to corruption in Indian ranks which continues rotting Indian administrative machinery

●Conclude on following lines As Rabindranath Tagore said British will leave India in mountain of dirt & filth, that it will be difficult for India to clean it. The legacy of British Rule was deeply entrenched into Indian system that Independent India didn’t start a clean slate. We can observe the continuity of the Raj in almost every aspect.

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PSIR QUESTION 18.. .Why quit India movement known as most un-gandhian of all Gandhian movements? What are the distinct features of Gandhian mass movements

2019-10-06T15:33:00.000+05:30

Today's question..18 Why quit India movement known as most un-gandhian of all Gandhian movements? What are the distinct features of Gandhian mass movements

Points -

Start by briefly introducing Quit India Movement
Explain why it was the most Ungandhian movement
Tell about Gandhi and distinct features of mass movements
Conclusion

Answer -

●Start by briefly introducing Quit India Movement Following the adoption of 8 August 1942 resolution at Gowalia tank in Bombay, Indian masses undertook perhaps the most militant nationalist movement known as Quit India movement. It was a call for nothing less than freedom, as Gandhi announced while articulating his thought on this Anti-British counter-offensive.

●Explain why it was the most Ungandhian movement Unlike Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement which were basically non-violent campaigns against the British rule in India, Quit India movement was an ultimatum to British for final withdrawal.

Quit India Movement was a Gandhi-led Un-Gandhian campaign since he extorted to take up arms in self-defense and resorted to armed resistance against a stronger and well equipped aggressor.

He gave the call for “open rebellion” and gave the slogan “Do or die”, but don’t stay alive to see nation in bondage. Gandhi proudly said that nation will live when people are ready to die for it. Gandhi called it the last struggle of his life & assured the masses that movement won’t be called off. Unlike previous movements, he didn’t condemn violence of people against bigger violence of State to the extent he also permitted to take controlof police station if needed. Thus, it can be said with certainty that Quit India Movement was the most Un-Gandhian of all Gandhian movements.

●Tell about Gandhi and distinct features of mass movements Gandhi adopted the methodology of mass Satyagraha which insistent on truth, and his core concept was Ahimsa or non-violence. Some specific features of Gandhian mass movements were his ability to keep them controlled and not spontaneous or knee-jerk reaction to British order.

He himself talked about the journey as protracted struggle or long drawn in approach to keep the momentum going. Gandhi used to begin the mass movements by engaging critique of social order as precondition to waging of political struggle, thus making political movements social movements as well which gave him legitimacy and large scale support of masses.

He knew the limited capacity of the masses and used to call off the movements before weakness of movement could reach the surface. Gandhi was great strategist and he preplanned the events beforehand, his strategy allowed him to choose battlefield & time. Hence, Gandhi was pro-active & not reactive,

●Conclude on following lines Purpose of Gandhi to pursue non-violence was to bring masses to the field of national movement, which proved the strategical abilities in Gandhi where he could take administration by surprise and eventually won concessions from the authorities.

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PSIR QUESTION 17. Compare Buddhist tradition of political philosophy with Hindu tradition.

2019-10-06T15:25:00.000+05:30

Q. Compare Buddhist tradition of political philosophy with Hindu tradition.

Points -

Start by giving brief introduction on both traditions
Give differences between both
Give similarities between both
Conclusion

Answer -

●Start by giving brief introduction on both traditions According to Bhikhu Parekh, Buddhism was a rebel child of Hinduism with host of similarities amongst plethora of differences especially in foreign and State policies. It can be said that Hindu tradition of political thought met its most radical critique at the hands of Buddhism.

●Give differences between both Hinduism believes in four goals of life- Dharma, Artha, Kaam, Moksha and don’t reject materialism, whereas Buddhism initially talked about leaving worldly pleasures though later on adapted middle path.

Hinduism believes in caste based society or Varna system with functional specialization supporting monarchy, whereas Buddhism is egalitarian in nature and supports republican model and emphasises on rational discourse as the way of accepting principles.

Hinduism called State as contract between human and God, whereas Buddhism called State as contract between humans and humans.

Hinduism glorifies war and supports acquisition of land, whereas Buddhism is against war and supports winning of heart.

Hinduism is largely realist in approach whereas principles of Buddhism are idealist.

Hinduism talks about danda, spies, brutal punishment unlike Buddhism which believes in peace, toleration.

●Give similarities between both The Buddhist challenge did not, however, lead to a radical reformulation of the Hindu tradition of political thought. It continued to share such basic Hindu beliefs like life is full of sorrow, desires are bad, philosophy of Karma, and the ruler must maintain Dharma.

Buddhist tradition of political philosophy also believed in “Chakravarti” or world monarch where persists Dharmachakra, with the difference that power and authority of Brahmans was merely replaced by Khastriya.

●Conclude on following lines Despite Buddhist political philosophy not involving a radical break, it did challenge some Hindu beliefs to which Hindu writers typically responded by accepting some and ignoring some. Buddhist ideology is still portrayed in Hindu dominated country when analyzing some core principles of Indian foreign policy like Non-Aggression, pacific settlement of disputes, toleration, world peace and Buddhism remains the source of Indian national symbols.

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PSIR QUESTION.. 16 .. ... What are the chief components of Radical Humanism? What is the relevance of Radical Humanist thought in the age of globalisation?

2019-10-06T15:17:00.000+05:30

Today's question ...16. What are the chief components of Radical Humanism? What is the relevance of Radical Humanist thought in the age of globalisation?

Points -

Start with introduction of MN Roy and briefly define his idea
Explain Radical Humanism and its components
Tell the relevance of Radical Humanist thought in age of globalization
Give conclusion

Answer -

●Start with introduction of MN Roy and briefly define his idea Radical Humanism or New Humanism was a philosophy of MN Roy which enunciates the supremacy of the eternal urge of freedom where the philosophy aims at truly liberating the man and keeping him at centre of the radical state or a state which is free from any other identity. MN Roy’s idea of Radical Humanism emerges out of Renaissance philosophy of Humanism which advocated individualistic approach to moral problems.

●Explain Radical Humanism and its components Radical Humanism is cosmopolitan in outlook. Like Gandhi, Aurobindo, Tagore, Roy is also a believer in the cooperative fellowship of man. A confraternity of morally and spiritually liberated individuals who are free from the chains of caste, religion, nation, and creed are the fundamental requirement for the realization of a better society and freerworld. Hence, in place of nationalism, world brotherhood is needed. Roy gave three components of Radical Humanism namely Freedom, Morality and Reason.

Freedom is from fears or insecurities as his understanding of freedom is existentialistic, or freedom from necessities, freedom from State, superstitions, God, etc.

Morality as advocated by Roy is secular, as he felt that whatever man found relevant for survival became moral value of society. Hence, morality is human creation and we can build those norms by our own reasons which are conducive for our freedom.

Reason refers to struggle for survival at mental level which leads to result. Human beings are diverse, but unifying aspect amongst them is reason. All humans are rational, but at times some may appear irrational and hence, reason can be unifying force to build new world order.

●Tell the relevance of Radical Humanist thought in age of globalization In the age of Globalization where Anthony Giddens call it compression of time and space, and emergence of extensive relations amongst men, Radical Humanism looms larger than ever. The cosmopolitan world which Roy talks about is in making when 21st century watches the emergence of global NGOs, Multinational Cooperation’s, growth of global civil society, trans-national linkages between nations, Cobweb model and International issues becoming common arena of discussion among nations, depict the glimpse of Roy’s Cosmopolitan world order.

●Conclude on following lines However, Roy’s Radical Humanism liberates the man spiritually and breaks national and International barriers. Globalization has also seen coming up of inequalities, Neocolonialism, race to the bottom and recently seen discontent in both Western & NonWestern world which were unlike the ideal world order Roy talks about. It emphasizes the need of new order of Globalization based on dialogue, dignity, reason for the humanist world order to come into existence.

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PSIR QUESTION 15..Compare Ambedkar and Gandhi’s views on social justice.

2019-10-02T19:06:00.000+05:30

Q 15. Compare Ambedkar and Gandhi’s views on social justice.

Points -

Start the answer by explaining Social Justice and give brief introduction of Ambedkar and Gandhi
Give differences between their views
Give similarities between their views

Answer -
Start the answer by explaining Social Justice and give brief introduction of Ambedkar and Gandhi Justice is a architonic idea and a fundamental concept in Political Theory. Social justice is the fair and just relation between the individual and society. It has often referred to the process of ensuring that individuals fulfill their societal roles and receive what was their due from society.
The way Bhikhu Parekh calls Buddhism as rebel child of Hinduism, Ambedkar can also be symbolized as rebel child of Gandhi who had host of similarities and differences in their views on Social Justice.
Give differences between their views Ambedkar was critic of Manuvaad, and he believed Varna system led by Brahmanism responsible for injustice prevalent in society, Gandhi was deeply religious person and didn’t condemn Varna system for injustice, rather he justified it for functional specialization it promoted .
Ambedkar called for annihilation of caste to the extent he talked about putting dynamite on Vedas & Manusmriti, Gandhi didn’t believe in such arguments responsible for prevalent injustice.
Ambedkar said that to overcome such Social injustice the necessary step is affirmative action and henceforth proposed Hindu Code Bill apart from being major force behind Art 29, 30. Gandhi's method of social reform was relying on individual initiative and raising the conscience of person to achieve desirable societal change.
Ambedkar felt that the only way to remove untouchability is to leave Hinduism which he ultimately did, whereas Gandhi was opposed to such conversion.
Ambedkar consider Social unity and Social Justice as necessity for emergence of nationalism, Gandhi’s priority was nationalism led freedom struggle along with Social Justice.
Give similarities between their views However, both Ambedkar and Gandhi were reformist and had common vision of dignified life and upliftment of downtrodden.
Both wanted exploitation free society as Gandhian Ramrajya was based on oceanic circle of power, whereas Ambedkar was based on society free from contradictions.
Both didn’t believe in violent methods for achieving social justice which they considered as foundation stone for ideal society.
Conclude on following lines Ambedkar was one of the biggest critic of Gandhi, and while being the Chairman of Drafting Committee his ideas of affirmative action for Social Justice were incorporated in Constitution of India in Article 15, 16, Directive Principles of State Policy, etc.

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PSIR QUESTION 14. Compare Kautilya with Machiavelli. Should Kautilya be called as Indian Machiavelli?

2019-10-02T18:58:00.000+05:30

question 14..Compare Kautilya with Machiavelli. Should Kautilya be called as Indian Machiavelli?

Points
1.Give a brief introduction of Kautilya & Machiavell
2.Give similarities between Kautilya and Machiavelli
3.Give differences between Kautilya and Machiavelli
4.Tell whether Kautilya should be called Indian Machiavelli & conclude

Answer -
Give a brief introduction of Kautilya & Machiavelli
There are two names celebrated in history for an exposition of the theory of StatecraftKautilya and Machiavelli. Kautilya, a teacher of political morals is a contemporary and guide of Chandragupta Maurya and is the author of Arthashastra which deals with all the doctrines concerned with practical life, economics, administration and politics.
Machiavelli who was the first to sense the upheaval of Renaissance is the author of “Prince” treats mainly of statecraft and lays down conditions that are necessary for the establishment and operation of machinery of a strong State.
Give similarities between Kautilya and Machiavelli
Kautilya and Machiavellian times have certain resemblance with respect to lawlessness, violence and callousness to the sanctity of human life and the apathy of the public conscience.
Both Kautilya and Machiavelli have admiration for power and efficiency in man, both glorified the State and regarded the King as morally and legally the foundation of all sovereign authority.
Both favour the relaxation of political canons in accordance with the change in circumstances and suitability of political conditions.

Both have pessimistic view of the world and men are looked upon as purely selfish, ungrateful, fickle and cowardly.
Both advise King not to trust officials, and considered statecraft is management of power. Another common aspect was the expansionist foreign policy pursued by both.
Both propounded the use of unfair means including the use of religion for politics, and giving primacy to nation state.
Give differences between Kautilya and Machiavelli
However, there are some differences between them when Kautilya regards King as a fountain of Justice and preserver of Dharma. He is a confirmed believer in moral order of universe and in divine nature of State to preserve Dharma. On the other hand, Machiavelli consciously maintains the separation of politics from ethics and religion by giving politics an assured and scientific basis.
Kautilya believed that King is not above Dharma whereas Machiavelli considered King as harmless.
Kautilya’s work is much more detailed and exhaustive unlike Machiavelli whose ideas are brief in consonance with then prevalent time and space.
Tell whether Kautilya should be called Indian Machiavelli & conclude
Nehru called Kautilya as India’s Machiavelli in his work “The Discovery of India” whereas Max Weber went to the extent to call Kautilya as more Machiavelli than Machiavelli.
However, Kautilya gave detailed analysis of Statecraft ages before Machiavelli and with plethora of similarities it would be an understatement to call Kautilya as Indian Machiavelli, rather Machiavelli should be called Italian Kautilya.

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PSIR QUESTION.. 13. While many of Plato’s ideas were utopian and have no practical value today, others represent the abiding truth. (Gettel)

2019-09-30T08:49:00.001+05:30

Question 13 - While many of Plato’s ideas were utopian and have no practical value today, others represent the abiding truth. (Gettel)

Answer:
Plato has been regarded as the founder of classical idealism by virtue of his attempts to conceptualize that disorders and crisis of the actual world and presented it to his readers a vision of desirable political and social order. Thus, Plato has been credited with laying the foundation of the philosophical perspectives and issues on which the Western political tradition rests. In this context Whitehead has commented that ‘the entire European philosophical tradition is nothing but a set of footnotes of Plato’.
In his work ‘Republic’, Plato’s greatest work, he has attempted to established the philosophical tradition of Justice. And in doing so, he set forth his conceptions of an ideal state. His book explored the notion of justice and its realisation within the individual and the state. It sketched a detailed picture of the polity and social institutions with a view of attaining human excellence and perfection. It had an elaborate scheme of education which led Rousseau to comment that it was hardly a political work but a finenest treatise on education ever written. It contained a detailed examination of the meaning of good life and outline the means to achieve it. Accepting the Socratic Dicta ‘virtue is knowledge’ and ‘a life unexamined is not worth living’, Plato argued that wrong deeds have their origin in ignorance, where as knowledge leads to right action, happiness and conversion of the soul.

However, Plato’s ideas and theories have been criticized of being utopian because the ideal state was considered to be unrealistic and unrealizable. Critics argue that the philosopher ruler is not natural ruler and governing was pressed upon him in the larger interest of the community. Leo Strauss considered Republic as the greatest critic of political idealism ever written as it appears to be a satire written with the purpose of demonstrating the limits of what was politically feasible.

While most of Plato’s conception and ideas are considered to be utopian and unrealistic, his other schemes and ideas were based on practical experiences of his space and time. In an attempt to explode the essence of governance, Plato has shown why it is more important for the ruling class to understand the idea of governance. It is because of the ignorance of the ruling class that the problems of corruption arise, which he himself experienced in the Athens of his time. In addition, his work, ‘Republic’, was written in the form of a dialogue, a method of great importance in clarifying questions and establishing truth.

Plato insisted that temperate attitude towards property was necessary for security and wellbeing of the state. Too much acquisitiveness and love for one’s possessiveness ruined unity and moral goodness of the state. Thus, Plato clearly perceived the disastrous consequences of combining the economic and political power. In this way, Plato was the first to understand the implication of the role that economic factor can play in politics

Therefore, despite being the master of political philosophy and idealism, Plato’s formulation are also based on truth and knowledge. A/Q to Nettleship, the book Republic may be regarded not only as a philosophical work but as a treatise on social and political reforms.

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PSIR QUESTION.. ..Write short notes on Participatory Democracy

2019-09-29T19:22:00.001+05:30

Question. ..Write short notes on Participatory Democracy

Points -

Start with explaining democracyStart with explaining democracy
You must then explain participative democracy
Give brief difference with deliberative democracy
Then give criticism of participative democracy
Conclusion

●Start with explaining democracy

James Bryce in his work “Modern Democracies” chiefly called democracy as the rule of people expressing their sovereign will and majority opinion determining legislation.

●You must then explain participative democracy

Participative or direct democracy is a system of government in which all public decisions are taken by general body of citizens at their regular meetings. Rousseau is regarded as pioneer of participative democracy and in his classic work “The Social Contract” asserted that Government is only an instrument to carry out instructions of the general will which is convergence of real will of all members. He also called participative democracy as pre-requisite to freedom. Communitarians justify participation on the ground that it contributes to common good. Instrumental view asserts that citizen participation is aimed at promoting or defending the interests of the participants. Contemporary scholars like Amy Gutman are active proponents of participative democracy and instruments like Citizen Charter, Social Audit, Ombudsmen, EGovernance help in enhancing participation.

●Give brief difference with deliberative democracy

Participative democracy is often confused with deliberative democracy where decision making should strike a balance between personal freedom and popular rule. Here, people try to influence each other through an accepted mode of reasoned argument.

●Then give criticism of participative democracy

Critics point out that champions of participatory democracy insist only on increasing citizens’ participation but do not suggest any alternative system for its implementation.

Advocates of participative democracy seem to be too optimistic. Ortega Gasset in “Revolt of Masses” express fear that excessive participation may lead to mobocracy. Ordinary people are not endowed with adequate patience and insight that would enable them to make a correct assessment of the situation.

●Frame your conclusion on lines like World Bank view of Good Governance also emphasize on necessity of transparency, accountability which is not possible without participation of people, but such participation needs concrete action & not just theory.

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