Political Sciences

Level 1: Foundations (Base)

This level covers the essential concepts and terminology that form the basis of political science. Students or learners should grasp the fundamental theories, key terms, and principles of each branch.

1. Political Theory

   • Basic Definitions: Politics, State, Power, Authority, Legitimacy

   • Classic Political Theorists: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

   • Core Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Communism, Feminism, Nationalism

   • Forms of Government: Democracy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, Monarchy, Oligarchy

2. International Relations

   • Core Concepts: Sovereignty, Nation-state, Anarchy, Diplomacy, Global Governance

   • Theories of International Relations: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Marxism, Feminism

   • International Institutions: United Nations, World Trade Organization, NATO, International Monetary Fund

3. Public Policy

   • Policy Process: Agenda Setting, Policy Formulation, Policy Implementation, Policy Evaluation

   • Basic Concepts: Public Goods, Bureaucracy, Regulation, Welfare State

   • Economic Theories: Keynesian Economics, Monetarism, Supply-side Economics

4. Comparative Politics

   • Comparative Method: Case Studies, Cross-national Analysis, Institutionalism

   • Political Systems: Federalism, Unitary States, Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems

   • Key Concepts: Political Culture, State Formation, Democratization, Political Economy

Level 2: Intermediate Understanding

This level introduces more complex topics and encourages comparing theories, systems, and policies.

1. Political Theory

   • Modern Political Thinkers: Rawls, Nozick, Foucault, Derrida, Arendt

   • Analysis of Political Ideologies: Anarchism, Fascism, Neoliberalism, Environmentalism

   • Concepts of Justice: Distributive Justice, Social Justice, Global Justice

2. International Relations

   • Major Conflicts and Diplomacy: Cold War, World Wars, Proxy Wars, Conflict Resolution

   • Globalization and its Impact: Economic Globalization, Political Integration, Cultural Homogenization

   • Emerging Powers: BRICS Nations, Geopolitics of Asia and Africa, Multi-polarity

3. Public Policy

   • Types of Policies: Social Policy, Economic Policy, Environmental Policy, Foreign Policy

   • Policy Actors: Role of Governments, Interest Groups, Think Tanks, Media

   • Welfare States: Variations in Social Welfare Models (Nordic, Anglo-Saxon, Continental)

4. Comparative Politics

   • Types of Regimes: Hybrid Regimes, Electoral Authoritarianism, Competitive Authoritarianism

   • Democratization Processes: Waves of Democratization, Role of Civil Society, Democratic Backsliding

   • Institutional Analysis: Electoral Systems, Judicial Systems, Party Systems

Level 3: Advanced Analysis

At this level, learners can critically engage with contemporary issues, critique existing theories, and apply their knowledge to real-world political situations.

1. Political Theory

   • Postmodernism and Political Theory: Deconstruction, Power/Knowledge, Subjectivity

   • Critical Theory: Frankfurt School, Habermas, Critical Race Theory, Post-Colonialism

   • Theories of Democracy: Deliberative Democracy, Participatory Democracy, Radical Democracy

2. International Relations

   • International Political Economy: Trade Regimes, Global Financial Crises, Development Theories

   • Global Security: Terrorism, Cybersecurity, Nuclear Proliferation, Human Security

   • Regional Organizations: European Union, ASEAN, Mercosur, African Union

3. Public Policy

   • Policy Networks and Governance: Multi-level Governance, Public-Private Partnerships

   • Comparative Policy Analysis: Health Care Systems, Education Systems, Environmental Policies

   • Policy Innovation: Technological Change, E-Governance, Smart Cities

4. Comparative Politics

   • Theories of State: Neoliberal State, Developmental State, Post-Colonial State

   • Political Economy of Development: Dependency Theory, Modernization Theory, Global Capitalism

   • Comparative Revolutions: Arab Spring, Color Revolutions, Latin American Movements

Level 4: Expertise and Application (Apex)

At the top level, learners use their knowledge to create new theories, develop policy recommendations, and address specific global and domestic political challenges.

1. Political Theory

   • Creating New Theoretical Frameworks: Synthesizing Existing Theories, Normative Political Analysis

   • Debating Contemporary Issues: Identity Politics, Ethics in AI Governance, Climate Justice

   • Philosophical Implications: Ethics of War, Global Citizenship, Political Obligation

2. International Relations

   • Geostrategy and Foreign Policy Design: Strategic Responses to Global Crises, Power Transitions

   • Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Mediation Strategies, International Law Applications

   • Global Governance Reforms: Reforming the UN, Global Trade Regimes, Climate Agreements

3. Public Policy

   • Policy Experimentation: Pilot Projects, Behavioral Economics in Policy Design, Nudge Theory

   • Evaluating Policy Impact: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Social Impact Assessments, Policy Diffusion

   • Crisis Management: Responses to Pandemics, Financial Crises, Migration Flows

4. Comparative Politics

   • In-depth Country Case Studies: Political Transformations in China, India, and Latin America

   • Advanced Institutional Analysis: Deep Dive into Constitutions, Checks and Balances, Decentralization

   • Political Risk Analysis: Measuring Stability, Corruption, and Political Violence