About the Department

The Department of Political Science was established in Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Satabarshiki Mahavidyalaya in the year 2006. Initially it began with only General Course but later on Calcutta University granted Honours Course in the subject. Initially the College was affiliated to the University of Calcutta but presently it falls under West Bengal State University, Barasat. The Department has two Assistant Professors and three State Aided College Teachers. The department offers both honours and general courses. Presently the semester system under CBCS has been introduced since July 2018 and students are taught accordingly. The second and third year follows the annual system of examination.

LEARNING OUTCOME
Program Outcome
Aristotle was once asked what is the difference between an educated man and one who is uneducated. The answer was its the same difference as between a living person and a dead one. Education is the basic criteria which takes any society further. In present day world full of crises of various kinds, mere school education is not enough. A person can contribute towards improving his socio-economic condition of the society in general and his own condition in particular only if he has college level higher education or a graduation degree i.e., B.A either Honours or General. The main educational qualification needed for most of the jobs now a days is the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Whether it is a job in Schools or Colleges, Banking sector or any private sector, without B.A degree it is very difficult to get a job. Graduation degree is the basic degree which is needed for appearing in Civil Services examination either in the Central or State level.
Program Specific Outcome
Political Science is subject which has expanded its frontiers continuously since its inception and is still growing day by day. Tracing its origin from Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and the like it began its journey as a part of Philosophy but quickly branched itself out of its mother discipline to create a niche of its own. Students of Political Science Honours learn not only about the State, Government and its organs, its functioning, the Political system but also the behaviour of people, organizations, interest groups, their interactions with the society as a whole. This enriches the students and makes them complete individuals with a full knowledge about all the aspects of the society.
Presently Political Science Honours includes the study of Political theory, Political thought (both Indian and Western), International relations, Political sociology, Public administration, Indian government and politics, Comparative politics and the like. It also includes the study of various social movements, gender studies, studies on nationalism and subaltern studies. It encompasses a vast arena of both the political life and the civil society which deals with the social life of the people. It has close connection with History which is often referred to as its sister discipline. It is believed by political scientists that without an understanding of the past no study of the present or the future can be made.
Political Science as a subject is of immense importance in building a bright future for students. Its multifaceted scope offers a variety of opportunities to those who pursue this subject either at the Honours level. After studying Political Science, students can branch out to various professions as IAS, IFS, WBCS, School and College teachers, Journalists, Banking sector and other government services and the like. Their knowledge about current affairs, society, politics, government and its functioning gives them an extra edge in whatever profession they choose. Since they are aware not only about the political but the social aspects of society, it helps them become more empathetic to the social problems and therefore become improved human beings and conscious citizens who can take the country forward. They are sensitive towards gender issues, issues of unemployment, issues relating to various dissensions in society as caste, creed, religion etc and they can offer their enriched opinion towards removal of these ills of the society and making the society a better place to live in.
Studying Political Science Honours makes a student an expert in all kinds of political analyses as well as analysis of the society. The students can then share their valuable opinion about the society and politics which can help to create a better society. In present times of fratricidal wars and various conflicts spread all over the world study of Political science helps to make the society a better place to live in. It explains why wars take place, what can be done to minimize conflict and maximize peace efforts in society.
Course Outcome
Paper I Understanding Political Theory
This paper helps the students to understand the idea of Political theory, its various methods and approaches, and is designed to reconcile political theory and practice through reflections on the ideas and practices related to democracy.
Paper 2 Constitutional Government and Democracy in India
This paper helps the students to understand the entire process of Constitutional government and Democracy both in theoretical and practical perspectives. It also equips the students to understand the mutual interaction between the organs of the Government which help in making a democratic process work.
Paper 3 Political Theory- Concepts and Debates
This paper helps the students to get familiar with the basic normative concepts of political theory. Each concept is related to a crucial political issue that requires analysis with the help of our conceptual understanding. It also encourages the students to understand the important debates in the subject.
Paper 4 Political Process in India
This paper familiarizes the students with the working of the political process in India and how the State functions amidst the various power dynamics in the society. It also maps the working of the modern institutions, premised on the existence of an individuated society, in a context marked by communitarian solidarities, and their mutual transformations thereby.
Paper 5 Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
This course aims to familiarize the students with the basic concepts and approaches to the study of comparative politics. In other words, the course will focus on examining politics in a historical framework while engaging with various themes of comparative analysis in developed and developing countries.
Paper 6 Perspectives on Public Administration
This course provides an introduction to the discipline of Public Administration. This paper encompasses public administration in its historical context with an emphasis on the various classical and contemporary administrative theories. This course also aims to provide the students with a comprehensive understanding on contemporary administrative developments.
Paper 7 Perspectives on International Relations and World History
This paper helps the students with the basic aspects of International Relations. It introduces students to some of the most important theoretical approaches for studying International Relations. This course begins by historically contextualizing the evolution of the international state system. The students are then introduced to different theories in International Relations. A key objective of the course is to make students aware of the implicit Euro centrism of International Relations by highlighting certain specific perspectives from the Global South.
Paper 8 Political Processes and Institutions in Comparative Perspective
This course aims to train the students in the application of comparative methods to the study of Politics. This course aims to introduce students to some of the range of issues, literature and methods that cover comparative political arena.
Paper 9 Public Policy and Administration in India
This paper seeks to provide an introduction to the interface between public policy and administration in India. The essence of public policy lies in its effectiveness in translating the governing philosophy into programmes and policies and making it a part of the community living.
Paper 10 Global Politics
This paper introduces students to the key debates on the meaning and nature of globalization by addressing its political, economic, social, cultural and technological dimensions. It imparts an understanding of the working of the world economy, while analyzing the changing nature of relationship between the state and transnational actors and networks.
Paper 11 Indian Political Thought
This course introduces the specific elements of Indian Political Thought spanning over two millennia. The basic focus of study is on individual thinkers whose ideas are however framed by specific themes. The course as a whole is meant to provide a sense of the broad streams of Indian thought while encouraging a specific knowledge of individual thinkers and texts.