Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Introduction to Political Science Syllabus - Mumbai University

About this course

Political Science is an allied subject of social work which aids the social workers in understanding the political situation of the society while working for the people. Understanding the political spectrum of a country would enable the social workers to understand the ideologies of the governments that are formed, the various systems that can be used in their work with the people and also get a comprehensive understanding about how social changes can be advocated for their beneficiaries. The course would enable the students in getting an understanding about the macro perspective of the student social workers, thereby helping them in critically analyzing the factors affecting the life of their service users.

Course objectives

• To understand the foundation of political science and governance.
• To examine the various democratic systems and processes and connect the same with social work as a profession.
• To comprehend the democratic structures as well as various political challenges in the current scenario.

Learning outcomes

• CO 133 Discuss various political science concepts, governance structures, and the significance of political knowledge in the realm of social work practice.
• CO 134 Compare and contrast different democratic systems, such as direct and indirect democracy, parliamentary and presidential models, and evaluate their relevance and effectiveness.
• CO 135 Discuss the functioning of political entities, including political parties, pressure groups, public opinion, and media, within the democratic framework.
• CO 136 Apply political understanding to address societal issues, thereby contributing to policy advocacy, and engage with diverse communities to enact positive change

Unit I: Understanding Politics and Governance

• Understanding the scope and essence of political Science.
• Relevance of Politics to Social Work
• Different Forms of Governance: Democracy, Dictatorship, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy, Federalism, Anarchy.
• Understanding the State: Elements, functions, and significance.

Essential readings

• Goodin, Robert E. (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook to Political Science, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2009.
• Goodin, Robert E., and Pettit, Philip (Ed.), A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy, Oxford, Blackwell, 2006.

Unit II: Democratic Systems

• Democratic Processes: Exploring Direct and Indirect Democracy.
• Comparison: Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy.
• Critiquing Democracy: Analysing strengths and weaknesses.
• Indian Democracy: Federalism and Decentralization.
• Political Autonomy of States
• Elections and Representation: Fair election, Voters awareness.
• Political Entities: Understanding Political Parties, Pressure Groups, Public Opinion, and the Media.
• Identifying Political Challenges: Identity Related Politics, Exploring Political Alienation, Corruption, and Violence.

Essential readings

• Held, David, Models of Democracy, Third Edition, Polity Press, London, 2006.
• Bhargava, Rajeev, What is Political Theory and Why Do We Need it?, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2010, pp. 3- 55. Manor, James (2002).Parties and the Party System. In the Edited book Parties and Party Politics in India by Zoya Hasan. New Delhi, India. Oxford University Press. pp. 431-474.
• Yadav, Yogendra and Palshikar, Suhas (2009), “From Hegemony to Convergence: Party System and Electoral Democracy: Party System and Electoral Democracy in Indian States”, Journal of Indian School of Political Economy 15 (1-2), pp.5-44.