Bachelor of Political Science
🔵 YEAR 2 – CORE POLITICAL STUDIES
📗 Semester 1
, 1. What is Modern Political Theory?
Modern Political Theory examines political ideas from roughly the 17th century to the
present, focusing on how thinkers responded to:
● The rise of the modern state
● Industrialization
● Capitalism
● Democracy
● Individual rights
👉 It moves beyond classical thinkers like Plato and Aristotle to address modern political
realities.
2. Key Thinkers & Their Ideas
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
Core Idea: Strong state authority for order
● Famous work: Leviathan
● State of Nature: Life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
● Solution: Absolute sovereign power
📝 Exam Tip: Hobbes justifies authoritarian government for stability.
John Locke (1632–1704)
Core Idea: Natural rights and limited government
● Rights: Life, Liberty, Property
● Government must have consent of the governed
● Right to rebellion if government fails
📝 Exam Tip: Foundation of liberal democracy.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
Core Idea: Popular sovereignty
● “Man is born free, but everywhere in chains”
, ● General Will = collective good
● Direct democracy
📝 Exam Tip: Key influence on democratic theory.
Karl Marx (1818–1883)
Core Idea: Class struggle and capitalism critique
● History = class conflict
● Capitalism exploits workers
● Advocates revolution → classless society
📝 Exam Tip: Central to socialist and communist thought.
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873)
Core Idea: Liberty and individual freedom
● Harm Principle: Freedom unless harming others
● Supports free speech and women’s rights
📝 Exam Tip: Balances liberty with social responsibility.
3. Core Themes in Modern Political Theory
1. State & Authority
● Why should people obey the state?
● Hobbes vs Locke vs Rousseau
2. Liberty
● Negative liberty: Freedom from interference
● Positive liberty: Ability to achieve goals
3. Equality
● Political equality (voting rights)
● Economic equality (wealth distribution)
4. Justice
, ● Fairness in society
● Distributive justice (who gets what?)
5. Rights
● Natural rights vs legal rights
● Human rights evolution
4. Ideologies Emerging from Modern Theory
● Liberalism → Locke, Mill
● Socialism → Marx
● Conservatism → reaction to change
● Nationalism → identity and state unity
5. Comparison Snapshot
Thinker View of Human Nature Government Type
Hobbes Selfish, violent Absolute monarchy
Locke Rational, cooperative Limited democracy
Rousseau Good but corrupted Direct democracy
Marx Shaped by class Stateless society
Mill Rational, progressive Liberal democracy
✍️ 6. Sample Exam Questions
📌 Short Answer
● Define “state of nature” (Hobbes vs Locke).
● What is the “General Will”?
📌 Essay Questions
1. “Hobbes and Locke have fundamentally different views on human nature.” Discuss.
2. Evaluate Rousseau’s concept of popular sovereignty.
3. To what extent is Marx’s critique of capitalism still relevant today?
🔵 YEAR 2 – CORE POLITICAL STUDIES
📗 Semester 1
, 1. What is Modern Political Theory?
Modern Political Theory examines political ideas from roughly the 17th century to the
present, focusing on how thinkers responded to:
● The rise of the modern state
● Industrialization
● Capitalism
● Democracy
● Individual rights
👉 It moves beyond classical thinkers like Plato and Aristotle to address modern political
realities.
2. Key Thinkers & Their Ideas
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
Core Idea: Strong state authority for order
● Famous work: Leviathan
● State of Nature: Life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
● Solution: Absolute sovereign power
📝 Exam Tip: Hobbes justifies authoritarian government for stability.
John Locke (1632–1704)
Core Idea: Natural rights and limited government
● Rights: Life, Liberty, Property
● Government must have consent of the governed
● Right to rebellion if government fails
📝 Exam Tip: Foundation of liberal democracy.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
Core Idea: Popular sovereignty
● “Man is born free, but everywhere in chains”
, ● General Will = collective good
● Direct democracy
📝 Exam Tip: Key influence on democratic theory.
Karl Marx (1818–1883)
Core Idea: Class struggle and capitalism critique
● History = class conflict
● Capitalism exploits workers
● Advocates revolution → classless society
📝 Exam Tip: Central to socialist and communist thought.
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873)
Core Idea: Liberty and individual freedom
● Harm Principle: Freedom unless harming others
● Supports free speech and women’s rights
📝 Exam Tip: Balances liberty with social responsibility.
3. Core Themes in Modern Political Theory
1. State & Authority
● Why should people obey the state?
● Hobbes vs Locke vs Rousseau
2. Liberty
● Negative liberty: Freedom from interference
● Positive liberty: Ability to achieve goals
3. Equality
● Political equality (voting rights)
● Economic equality (wealth distribution)
4. Justice
, ● Fairness in society
● Distributive justice (who gets what?)
5. Rights
● Natural rights vs legal rights
● Human rights evolution
4. Ideologies Emerging from Modern Theory
● Liberalism → Locke, Mill
● Socialism → Marx
● Conservatism → reaction to change
● Nationalism → identity and state unity
5. Comparison Snapshot
Thinker View of Human Nature Government Type
Hobbes Selfish, violent Absolute monarchy
Locke Rational, cooperative Limited democracy
Rousseau Good but corrupted Direct democracy
Marx Shaped by class Stateless society
Mill Rational, progressive Liberal democracy
✍️ 6. Sample Exam Questions
📌 Short Answer
● Define “state of nature” (Hobbes vs Locke).
● What is the “General Will”?
📌 Essay Questions
1. “Hobbes and Locke have fundamentally different views on human nature.” Discuss.
2. Evaluate Rousseau’s concept of popular sovereignty.
3. To what extent is Marx’s critique of capitalism still relevant today?
