MPS MASTER S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT (M.A. II Year Courses) For July 2012 and January 2013 Sessions School of Social Sciences Indira Gandhi National Open University Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068
OPTIONAL COURSES: M.A. II Year (Political Science) Dear Student, Starting this academic session, you will have to do only one for each of the courses in the Master s Degree Programme in Political Science. Each assignment has descriptive and short category questions. Descriptive Category Questions (DCQs) are meant for writing essay type answers, with an introduction and a conclusion. These are intended to test your ability to describe your understanding/knowledge about the topic in a systematic, to-the-point and coherent manner. Short Category Questions (SCQs) require you to first analyse the topic in terms of arguments and explanations and then write the answers in a concise manner. They are meant to test your understanding of the concepts and processes, and your capacity to critically anlyse them. Before you attempt the assignments, please read the instructions carefully provided in the Programme Guide. It is important that you write the answers to all the TMA questions in your own words. Your answers should be within the approximate range of the word-limit set for a particular section. Remember, writing answers to assignment questions will improve your writing skills and prepare you for the term-end examination. This booklet has assignments of all II year courses in Political Science. Do the assignments of only those courses for which you are enrolled and leave the rest. Submission: You need to submit all the assignments within the stipulated time for being eligible to appear in the term-end examination. The completed assignments should be submitted as per the following schedule. Session Last Date of Submission To be Sent For July, 2012 Session For January, 2013 Session March 31, 2013 September 30, 2013 The Coordinator of the Study Centre allotted to you Please obtain a receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. If possible, keep a Xerox copy of the assignments with you. The Study Centre will return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on this. The Study Centre has to send the marks to the SR&E Division at IGNOU, New Delhi. Wishing you all the best, 2
MPSE-001: INDIA AND THE WORLD Course Code: MPSE-001 Assignment Code: Asst/MPSE-001/TMA/2012-13 SECTION I 1. Examine the foreign policy making structure and functions of the Ministry of External Affairs. 2. What are the core features of the interdependence approach to the study of foreign policy? Is it suitable for studying India s foreign policy? 3. Critically examine the major developments in India-China relations since the late 1970s. 4. Analyse the driving forces of India s relations with West Asia. 5. Critically examine India US relations since the end of the cold war. SECTION II Answer each part of the question in about 250 words. 6. a) Examine the rationale and impact of India s nuclear tests of 1998. b) Describe the essential features of India s disarmament policy. 7. a) Examine the role of MNCs in contemporary international economic relations. b) Analyse India s role in Indian Ocean RIM-Association for Regional Co-operations (IOR-ARC). 8. a) Examine the nature of India- Russia relationship in the post cold war period. b) Describe the areas of cooperation and discord in India-South Africa relations 9. a) Describe the features of the South Asian regional state system. b) Briefly describe Nehru's contribution to the foreign policy of India. 10. Comment on the following recent developments: a) Nuclear deal between India and the United States. b) Business groups in India s foreign policy process. 3
MPSE-002: STATE AND SOCIETY IN LATIN AMERICA Course Code: MPSE-002 Assignment Code: Asst/MPSE-002/TMA/2012-13 SECTON-I 1. Describe the developments leading to the rise of Independence movements in Latin America. 2. Explain the system of indentured labour in Guyana and Trinidad. 3. Discuss briefly the legacy of the institution of slavery in Latin America. 4. What are the main characteristics of political traditions in Latin America? Analyse their relevance to the contemporary Latin American political process. 5. Examine some of the political and economic factors responsible for adopting inward development strategy. SECTION-II 6. Discuss the merits and demerits of the import substitution industrialization adopted by Latin America countries in the 1970s. 7. Critically examine the historical role of the Church in Latin America since the days of Iberian colonisation. 8. Explain the agrarian and the land rights movements in Latin America. 9. Briefly explain the causes of revolutionary movements in Latin America. 10. Give a brief account of the evolution of regionalism in Latin America. 4
MPSE-003: WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT (From Plato to Marx) Course Code: MPSE-003 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-003/TMA/2012-13 SECTION - I 1. Discuss the relationship between political thought and political science. 2. Write an essay on Locke s views on social contract and civil society. 3. Give an overview of Tocqueville s views on democracy, revolution and the modern state. 4. What is Plato s theory of forms or ideas? Elaborate. 5. Describe the main political ideas of St. Augustine. SECTION -II Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each: 6. a) Machiavelli s Doctrine of Aggrandisement b) Thomas Hobbes on civil and natural law 7. a) Rousseau s Theory of General Will b) Edmund Burke on citizenship and democracy 8. a) Kant s views on the human nature b) The Panopticon (Bentham) 9. a) Mill on representative government b) Hegel s dialectical method 10. a) Marx s vision of communist society b) Marx s theory of revolution 5
MPSE-004: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN MODERN INDIA (MPSE-004) Course Code: MPSE-004 Assignment Code: Asst /MPSE-004/TMA/2012-13 Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each question is to be answered in about 500 words. Each question carries 20 marks. SECTION - I 1. Write an essay on the interface of nationalism and colonial modernity. 2. Describe the trajectory of Muslim thought in colonial India. 3. Compare and contrast the Moderate and the Extremist factions of the Indian Nationlists. 4. Discuss either Swami Vivekananda s or Sri Aurobindo s views on Nationalism. 5. Examine the political ideas of MS Golwalkar. SECTION -II Write short notes on the following in about 250 words each: 6. a) Political activities of Mohammad Iqbal b) Jaipal Singh and Adivasi identity 7. a) Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha and the Sikh question b) Gandhi s views on the relationship between religion and politics 8. a) Nehru on Scientific Humanism b) Nehru s views on Socialism 9. a) Rabindranath Tagore on Bolshevism b) Evolution of the Communist Movement in India 10. a) EMS Namboodiripad on national unity b) Jayaprakash Narayan on Socialism 6
MPSE-005: STATE AND SOCIETY IN AFRICA Course Code: MPSE-005 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-005/TMA/2012-13 SECTION-I 1. Describe the process of colonization of Africa. 2. Explain the impact of the two world wars on African nationalism. 3. Examine the major problems of development in Africa since 1950s. 4. Briefly discuss the impact of globalisation and prospects of sustainable development in Africa. 5. Examine the factors responsible for the emergence of authoritarian regimes in Africa. SECTION-II 6. Describe the emergence and growth of political parties in Africa. 7. Write a note on Africa's debt problem which led to economic backwardness in 1980s. 8. Describe the salient features of the post-cold war politics in Africa. 9. Briefly explain the legacy of big power involvement in African politics. 10. Briefly explain the salient features of the post-cold war peacekeeping in Africa. 7
MPSE-006: PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES Course Code: MPSE-006 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-006/TMA/2012-13 SECTION I 1. In the political economy approach, what are the causes for social and international conflict? Does economic integration and globalisation increase the prospects for peace? 2. Critically examine the models of international peace systems based on the distribution of power among nations. 3. What is civil society? What is its role in conflict containment and conflict resolution? 4. Distinguish civil war from revolutionary war and explain the different phases in the development of a planned civil war with suitable examples. 5. Critically examine the powers of the UN General Assembly with reference to the function of maintaining international peace and security. SECTION - II 6. a) How is limited war different from general war? b) Give a critique of just war doctrine. 7. a) Distinguish peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace building functions of the United Nations. b) What are CBMs? How do the CBMs in Asia differ from those in Europe? 8. a) Assess the role of regional organisations in conflict prevention and conflict resolution. b) Briefly describe the core features of the Gandhian vision of peace. 9. a) Briefly describe the features and limitation of the postmodernist approach to human security. b) Analyse the role of the state in managing conflict and promoting peace in society. 10. a) Write a short note on Kenneth Waltz s analysis of war. b) Examine the strategies adopted by the Cold War rivals to fight or deter a nuclear war. 8
MPSE-007: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND POLITICS IN INDIA Course Code: MPSE-007 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-007/TMA/2012-13 SECTION I 1. Critically evaluate the Marxist approach to the study of social movements. 2. Discuss the ideology and limitations of the Bahujan Samaj Party. 3. Analyse the state response to the regional movements in India. 4. Discuss the characteristics of the ethnic movements. 5. Analyse the characteristics of the agrarian movements in India during the post- Independence period. SECTION II Write a short note on each part of the question in about 250 words each. 6. a) Narmada Bachao Movement b) Main points in discourse on the Indian state 7. a) Discuss the relationships among state, market and social movements. b) Politics of OBC reservation 8. a) Impact of globalization on working class b) The Babri Masjid-Ramjanm Bhoomi issue 9. a) Fisher folks organizations b) The electoral mobilisation 10. a) Democracy and social transformation b) Components of social movements 9
MPSE-008: STATE POLITICS IN INDIA Course Code: MPSE-008 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-008/TMA/2012-13 SECTION I 1. Critically examine the main features of state politics in India since the 1980s. 2. Discuss the post-modernist framework to analyse state politics. 3. Critically examine the breakdown of "Congress System". 4. Analyse the role of caste in electoral behaviour. 5. Discuss the main features of the protest movements in India. SECTION II Write a short note on each part of the question in about 250 words each. 6. a) Social capital framework b) The self-determination movements 7. a) Tension areas in Union-State relations b) Sustainable developments 8. a) Development as Freedom b) Economic Reforms 9. a) Politics of water dispute b) Linguistic minorities and politics 10. a) Federation-building framework B) Communal Politics 10
MPSE-009: CANADA: POLITICS AND SOCIETY Course Code: MPSE-009 Assignment Code: AST/MPSE-09/TMA/2012-13 Section-I 1. Write an essay on the evolution of Canada as a settler s colony. 2. Critically examine the position and role of the Parliament in Canada. 3. How do pressure groups in Canada influence policy formulation? 4. What provisions have been made under the Canadian Constitution for selfgovernance of aboriginals? Describe their importance. 5. Describe the ideological issues and organisation of anti-globalisation movement in Canada. Section-II 6. Describe and analyse the basic reasons for the emergence and growth of separatism in Quebec. 7. Critically evaluate the policy of multiculturalism as adopted and implemented in Canada. 8. Describe liberal internationalism in the context of the process of economic regionalism and globalization in Canada. 9. Assess the role of Canada in development of strong rule based multilateral trading system of WTO. 10. Discuss the initiatives Canada has undertaken in recent years towards its commitments to the goals of Human Security. 11
MPSE-011: EUROPEAN UNION IN WORLD AFFAIRS Course Code: MPSE-011 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-011/TMA/2012-13 Section-I 1. Describe the process of the formation of European community and its implications for world trade. 2. Critically examine neo-functionalism as a theory to explain the process of European integration. 3. Describe and analyse the powers and functions of the European Commission. 4. Describe the main provisions of the EU Constitutional treaty and ratification difficulties it faced. 5. Write short notes on. a. Bretton Woods System b. European Central Bank Section-II 6. Describe and assess various steps taken to reform Common Agricultural Policy. 7. Discuss the process of enlargement of EU from 15 to 25 and the difficulties in that. 8. Describe the areas of convergence and divergence between the European Union and the United States. 9. Analyse the basic objectives of European Union s development policy. 10. Compare and contrast regionalism in South Asia and Europe. 12
MPSE-012: STATE AND SOCIETY IN AUSTRALIA Course Code: MPSE - 012 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-012/TMA/2012-13 SECTION -I 1. Why is Australia known as Dry Continent? Explain. 2. Explain the working of federalism in Australia. 3. Critically examine the social impact of the Australian colonial policy towards aborigines. 4. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each: a) Identity and Citizenship b) One nation party in Australia 5. Critically examine the changing nature of Australian economy in the era of globalization. SECTION-II 6. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each: a) Ethnicity and Multiculturalism b) Women s work participation in Australia 7. Examine the historical antecedents of nationalism in Australia. 8. Describe the welfare station tradition in Australia. How has it changed? 9. Trace the birth and growth of Indian diaspora in Australia. 10. Describe the main contours of Australian national identity. 13
MPSE-013: AUSTRALIA S FOREIGN POLICY Course Code: MPSE-013 Assignment Code: ASST/MPSE-013/TMA/2012-13 SECTION -I 1. Briefly explain the significant changes in Australia s foreign policy. 2. Describe the major role of Australia s parliament in foreign policy formulations. 3. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words: a) Australia s international trade b) Australian economic relations with ASEAN 4. Describe the changes in the political and diplomatic relations of India and Australia in the post-cold war years. 5. Examine Australia s relations with China on the issues of Taiwan and East Timor. SECTION-II 6. Examine the nature of Australian economic relations Indonesia 7. Examine the nature and pattern of Australia s trade and investment with APEC. 8. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each: a) Immigration policy and War on Terrorism b) Environmental movements in Australia 9. Explain the features of Environmental Legislation in Australia. 10. Comment on the following in about 250 words: a) Regionalism b) Australia and the Indian Ocean. 14
MED-002: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Course Code: MED-002 Assignment Code: ASST/MED-002/TMA/2012-13 each. Each question carries 20 marks. SECTION -I 1. Explain the original concept of sustainable development. What are its fundamental principles? 2. Explain the main characteristics of environmental legislation in India. 3. Explain the patterns of industrialization in the World. 4. Discuss the various parameters to be considered for assessing sustainable development? 5. Explain the following in about 250 words each: a) Gandhian Gram Swaraj b) Deep Ecology and Eco-Feminism SECTION-II 6. Trace the development of WTO and outline its policies concerned with Sustainable Development. 7. Explain the institutional mechanisms exist in the South Asian Region for achieving Sustainable Development. 8. Discuss various global issues related to environment. Assess the initiatives taken towards environmental protection to achieve sustainable development. 9. Discuss the consequences of global warming in the areas related to Sustainable Development. 10. Comment on the following in about 250 words each: (a) Life Style and Consumerism. (b) Desertification and Droughts. 15
MED-008: GLOBALISATION AND ENVIRONMENT Course Code: MED-008 Assignment Code: ASST/MED-008/TMA/2012-13 All questions are compulsory. Your answer to each question should not exceed 250 words. Each question carries 10 marks. SECTION -I 1. Discuss the relationship between globalization and global climate change. 2. Explain briefly some of the causes of man-made disasters and possible preventive measures 3. Explain how globalization has contributed to the increasing disparities in the developed and developing countries. 4. Trace the history of global environmental negotiations highlighting the salient features of some of the declarations. 5. Comment on the following: (a) Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (b) World Banks Environmental Agenda SECTION-II 6. Explain the environment problems of South Asian Countries. 7. Explain the origin of NGOs and their impact on global policies. 8. Explain the following in your own words: a) Chilka Bachao Andolan b) Movement against Trade in Toxic Materials 9. Explain the indicators of environmental sustainability and human development. 10. Critically examine the benefits and sustainability of adopting green growth strategies.. 16
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