The Political Science curriculum at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts offers a comprehensive understanding of governance, policy, and global affairs. Courses like Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy explore administrative theories, policy formulation, and evaluation. Global Justice examines ethical and philosophical debates in international contexts, while Peace & Conflict Studies focuses on political philosophy, Indian and Western traditions, and conflict resolution. Catch 22 in Politics and Comparative Politics engage students with real-world dilemmas, ethics, and the functioning of contemporary governments. The pedagogy emphasizes interactive discussions, research, presentations, and critical analyses, preparing students for nuanced understanding of politics globally.
Introduction to Political Science introduces students to the study of politics and its key concepts. The course covers the state, sovereignty, liberty, equality, democracy, rights, power, authority, legitimacy, and civil society. Students learn to critically analyze political systems and contemporary issues through discussions, case studies, and group activities. This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to understand political dynamics and engage as informed global citizens.
Western Political Thought introduces students to the foundational political philosophies that have shaped politics in the Western world. The course traces the evolution of political thought from ancient thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle, through Renaissance and Enlightenment theorists like Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, to modern and contemporary philosophers including Marx, Mill, Rawls, and Nozick. Emphasis is placed on understanding these ideas within their historical contexts and relating them to present-day political debates. Through interactive discussions, presentations, and continuous assessment, the course develops students’ critical thinking, interpretative skills, and ability to connect theory with contemporary politics.
Political Process and Dynamics of State Politics in India examines the evolution and functioning of state politics within India’s federal framework. The course analyzes the rationale behind linguistic reorganization of states and explores how region, language, and identity shape political processes and development. It critically engages with constitutional provisions, centre–state relations, regional parties, and movements, as well as the impact of globalization and economic reforms after the 1990s. Through comparative perspectives, case studies, and continuous evaluation, students gain insights into contemporary challenges facing Indian federalism. An interactive pedagogy encourages critical analysis, research skills, and a nuanced understanding of regionalization and nation-building in India.
The Comparative Politics course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of political systems across the contemporary world. It introduces the development of comparative politics as a field and examines various forms of government, including absolute and constitutional monarchies, parliamentary and presidential systems, federal and unitary states, military regimes, and theocracies. Through interactive class discussions, group research, presentations, and case studies, students analyze the functioning, strengths, and weaknesses of different polities. The course emphasizes critical thinking, practical application, and comparative analysis, enabling students to evaluate global political structures, understand governance challenges, and develop informed perspectives on political systems worldwide.
This course introduces students to public administration and policy-making in political and administrative contexts. It covers the evolution of administration, key theories, public-private partnerships, and policy processes including formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Through discussions, case studies, and multimedia resources, students learn to analyze government processes, assess policy impacts, and engage critically with contemporary issues in governance and public administration.
India’s Political Economy and Development examines the complex relationship between politics, institutions, and economic change in India. The course analyzes the nature of the Indian state, historical legacies, and centre–state relations while exploring how social structures such as class, caste, and religion shape democratic practice. It critically engages with planning, liberalization, sectoral growth, poverty alleviation, and state-led development initiatives. Contemporary issues in India’s political economy are studied through research-based inquiry, encouraging students to link theory with current debates. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and presentations, the course builds strong analytical skills and a nuanced understanding of India’s development trajectory.
The Indian Political Thought course explores the evolution of political philosophy in India from ancient times to the twentieth century. Students study key thinkers, including Manu, Kautilya, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Nehru, to understand the foundations of Indian polity, constitutional principles, and policy frameworks. Through interactive discussions, articles, videos, and practical examples, learners develop critical insights into the philosophical underpinnings of Indian politics. Assessments include continuous evaluations, group research presentations, written assignments, and semester-end exams. The course fosters analytical thinking, historical awareness, and a deeper understanding of India’s political and intellectual heritage.
With Civil Society stirring up for the first time in many decades, it is essential for citizens of India, and future policy formulators and practitioners to understand how the Indian polity is administered.
The term Catch 22 was coined by Joseph Heller in his novel of the same name in 1961. He used the term to describe situations which are difficult to resolve or escape as the options are mutually conflicting, resulting in situations where people are trapped due to contradictory rules and values.Modern Nation states are supposed to be welfare states. But we live in an age where politics appears to be devoid of ethics; where power politics are played out in the name of humanitarian interventions, and where we are forced to question every act of the government and judgment of the courts. This paper will look into issues which make us as a civil society feel trapped because of contradictory rules and interests.
This course is aimed at giving students a strong foundation in philosophical perspectives with regard to peace and conflict. In order to achieve the same, students will be given an introduction to Political Philosophy. Unlike traditional courses of the same name, this course is designed for students of ‘Peace and Conflict Studies’ as a minor / major. The course will draw from western and Indian philosophical traditions and will delve into the traditional questions of political philosophy as well as more pointed questions and discussions based on the theme of peace and conflict.
This course is meant to be an in depth study of the theory of ethics, meant for students who already have a familiarity with the subject. The course will track the development of the theory of ethics from the ancient Greeks up to the philosophical foundations of the modern human rights movement.
The Ideology and Politics course examines the role of ideologies in shaping socio-political and economic systems from the Enlightenment to the present. Students explore major ideologies such as liberalism, nationalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism, feminism, environmentalism, and post-modernism, analyzing their historical emergence, philosophical foundations, and practical political impact. Case studies of countries like India, Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the US highlight real-world applications. Pedagogy includes interactive discussions, multimedia resources, and group research. Assessment combines continuous evaluation, written assignments, presentations, and semester-end exams, fostering critical thinking and an in-depth understanding of political ideologies in modern governance.
The ecology and environment of developing countries have been significantly altered through colonization and after independence. Developing countries has had to make negotiations between utilizing natural resources and conserving its environment. In the 21st Century, these negotiations have become more intense as we grapple with reduced resources, natural disasters, urban pollution and global warming. As developing countries gear up for industrial and development projects, they also negotiate with claims of indigenous forest lands, fishing rights, grazing rights etc. This course is aimed at considering the various challenges, policies, laws and approaches of developing countries in negotiating environmental sustenance, and management of ecology and environment. The course will address forests, fisheries, mining, pollution, industrialization, water resources, urban pollution, tribal rights and alternative energy.
The course will begin with the contemporary ideas on justice found in the western world and question the need to add the ‘social’ component to it. It will deal with important modern thinkers who have worked on justice within the tradition of utilitarianism, libertarianism and communitarianism. After the tracing the historical trajectory of the concept, we will shift to the Indian variant of the idea of justice. In the concluding section the course will analyse ways of creating a more egalitarian global social order by building upon notions of democracy, morality and ‘public good’. Concepts such as race, caste, women, subalterns and indigenous will be utilized to understand the scope as well as the claims to justice.
In the field of Literary and Cultural Studies, critical ideas occupy a central place. If “practice” is what defines a human activity, we often need a set of ideas that help us understand such practices. Such a set of ideas can be understood (of course only in a generalized manner) as Theory. The last century saw a phenomenal rise of academic institutions that were defined in terms of their theoretical outlooks. Theory pervaded every imaginable discipline and helped define their contours. This course is a journey through such myriad ways, which shape the ways we understand the world. In this course, the students will be exposed to a variety of theoretical approaches that arose in the latter half of the 20th century. Students will gain a conceptual grasp over extremely critical debates that have informed our understanding of the world. In that we will take an informed look at Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Psychoanalysis (Lacan), Postmodernism and its aftermath, Postcolonial criticism and the late 20th century ideas in Marxism and Feminism.
The Marxism course explores the development and application of Marxist theory as a socio-economic and political framework. Students study the historical background of colonialism, industrial capitalism, and democratic revolutions, alongside philosophical foundations such as dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Key topics include Marx’s concept of man, alienation, critique of capitalist political economy, theory of imperialism, and contributions from Lenin, Mao, Gramsci, Lukacs, and the Frankfurt School. Pedagogy includes interactive discussions, multimedia resources, and group research. Assessment combines continuous evaluation, written assignments, presentations, and semester-end exams, fostering critical understanding of Marxist theory and its global political impact.
This course examines global justice through the lens of modern political thought and international institutions. It explores ethical debates and theories in an interconnected world, focusing on global citizenship, international equality, poverty, sovereignty, and the role of organizations like the UN and the ICC. Students engage with key thinkers such as Rawls, Nussbaum, Sen, Pogge, and Habermas to understand cosmopolitanism and human capabilities approaches. Pedagogy emphasizes critical analysis through structured assignments, short essay critiques, presentations, and in-depth study of a theory or book. The course balances theoretical frameworks with applied global issues and personal student interests.
The course Women in Conflict and Peace Process explores the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution globally. Students examine case studies from Rwanda, North-East India, Jammu & Kashmir, the Middle East, and Sri Lanka to understand women not only as victims but as active agents of sustainable peace. Pedagogy includes classroom discussions, film screenings, and optional readings to deepen understanding. Core objectives are to recognize, analyze, and defend women’s participation in conflict resolution, and to evaluate its long-term impact on societies.
Contemporary Latin America and Africa serves as an interdisciplinary gateway course for the undergraduate students in Latin American and AfricanStudies, offering an introduction to the problems and themes that shape contemporary Latin American and African society and culture. Rather than providing an overview of modern Latin American and African history this course examines several issues that loom large in Latin America and Africa today: immigration policies, the U.S. imperialism, the globalization of popular culture, the impact of economic policies, and counter-revolutionary response to popular mobilizations.
The course Contemporary India examines India’s journey from colonial rule to a modern democratic state. It explores the impact of colonialism on Indian society, economy, and polity, the making of the Indian Constitution, and the evolution of political parties and institutions. Students study economic transitions, debates on reforms, and challenges to democracy including communalism and secessionist movements. Pedagogy includes interactive discussions, analysis of articles, news clippings, and videos to connect theory with practice. The course aims to deepen understanding of nation-building, political processes, and the functioning of democracy, providing insights into India’s complex socio-political and economic landscape.
The course Internal Security in India examines the spectrum of internal security challenges facing the country, including terrorism, insurgencies, communal and ethnic violence, and extremism. Students analyze the causes, evolution, and implications of these threats, as well as the state’s response through legal frameworks, intelligence, and security agencies. Case studies cover regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, North-East India, and urban centers affected by communal violence. Pedagogy emphasizes interactive discussions, analysis of articles, news clippings, and videos to connect theory with practice. The course aims to develop a nuanced understanding of India’s internal security, sovereignty, and its impact on national development.
The course Public Policy and Administration in India explores the evolution, formulation, and implementation of public policy in the country. Students examine the role of the state, bureaucracy, legislature, judiciary, and non-state actors in shaping policy outcomes within the constitutional, political, and economic framework. Key topics include national planning, globalization, social sector policies, transparency, integrity, and challenges in administration. Pedagogy emphasizes interactive discussions, analysis of articles, news clippings, and videos to link theory with practice. Case studies and assignments help students critically evaluate policy processes and understand the impact of governance structures on India’s social, political, and economic development.