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PSIR Paper 2 syllabus

Political Science and International Relations Paper II — comparative politics and IR, as GS 2 of the optional.

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Comparative Politics and International Relations

  1. 1 Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; political economy and political sociology perspectives; limitations of the comparative method. 41 PYQs
  2. 2 State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and, advanced industrial and developing societies. 2 PYQs
  3. 3 Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies. 6 PYQs
  4. 4 Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies. 3 PYQs
  5. 5 Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory. 7 PYQs
  6. 6 Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transnational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation. 6 PYQs
  7. 7 Changing International Political Order: Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and Cold War; Nuclear threat; Non-aligned movement; Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; relevance of non-alignment in the contemporary world. 14 PYQs
  8. 8 Evolution of the International Economic System: From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies and the CMEA (Comecon); Third World demand for new international economic order; Globalisation of the world economy. 1 PYQ
  9. 9 United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN agencies — aims and functioning; need for UN reforms. 2 PYQs
  10. 10 Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA. 1 PYQ
  11. 11 Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear proliferation. 6 PYQs

India and the World

  1. 1 Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of policy-making; continuity and change. 5 PYQs
  2. 2 India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases; current role. 6 PYQs
  3. 3 India and South Asia: Regional Co-operation; South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; South Asian Economic cooperation; Impediments to regional co-operation; India and the Look East / Act East policy. 9 PYQs
  4. 4 India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations. 4 PYQs
  5. 5 India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia. 6 PYQs
  6. 6 India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council. 5 PYQs
  7. 7 India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy. PYQs
  8. 8 Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: India’s position on the recent crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; vision of a new world order. 16 PYQs