Classical Political Theory
and Modern Political
Theory
BSPS
Theory
• Origin:
GREEK theoria
LATE LATIN theory
Late 16 th Century
• Scientifically accepted general principle or body of principles
offered to explain phenomena.
• An idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or
events that is presented as possible true or proven to be true.
Political Theory
• Meaning
• Definition
• Political Theory and other inter-related terms
Political Theory
• Is a set of an idea or observation that intend to explain the political,
social, and economic event in the state.
• Men by nature has the capacity of thinking and analyzing the
behaviour of an individual and the state in the form of theories.
• Therefore, Political Theory is one of the core areas in Political Science.
• Earlier, those who engaged in this enterprise styled themselves as
Philosophers or scientist.
• From Ancient Greece to the Present, the history of Political Theory has
dealt with fundamental and perennial ideas of political science.
• NATURE – it is formal, logical, and systematic analysis
of processes and consequences of political activity.
• METHOD – it is analytical, expository, and explanatory.
• OBJECTIVE – to give order, coherence and meaning to
what may be referred to as “political”
Political Theory
• Meaning
• Definition
• Political Theory and other inter-related terms
Political Theory
• Political Theory has broadly two meaning:
1. One of the meaning can be closely associated with
traditional Political Approach;
2. while the other with Modern. – according to Andrew Hecker
• Political Theory includes Philosophy, Art and Politics. –
in the view of John C. Walk
• Political Theory as a network of concepts and
generalizations about political life involving ideas,
assumptions and statements about the nature, purpose
and key features of government, state and society and
about the political capabilities of human beings. –
according to David Held
Political Theory
• Meaning
• Definition
• Political Theory and other inter-related terms
Political Theory
A distinction can be made between Political Theory and
terms such as Political Science, Political Philosophy and
Political Ideology.
• Political Science – has tried to provide plausible
generalizations and laws about Politics and Political
Behaviour.
• Political Theory – reflects upon political Phenomenon,
process and institutions.
• Political Philosophy – provides general answer to question
such as what is justice, concept of right, the distinction
between ‘IS’ and ‘OUGHT’ and the larger issue of Politics.
• Political Thought - is the thought of the whole community
that includes the writings and speeches of the articulate
actions such as professional Politicians, Political
Commentators, Social Reformers and Ordinary persons of a
community.
• Political Ideology – is a systematic and all embracing
doctrine, which attempts to give a complete and
universally applicable theory of human nature and
society along with a detailed programme of attaining it.
Plato
•https://fisk.libguides.com/c.php?
g=1054717
Classical Political Theory
• Starts – 6 th Century B.C.
• Cover- All Political ideas – Greeks, Romans, Christians thinker and
Philosopher.
• Plato & Aristotle – two giants
• Includes Politics, the idea of Theory, & the practice of Philosophy
• Nature of Classical Political Theory includes – Description,
Explanation, Prescription & Evaluation
• Believed - in ultimate good, as well as political good.
• State – Natural institution & prior to the individual
Modern Political Theory
• 15 th – 16 th Century
• Diverse trends – the Institutional-structural, scientific,
positivistic, empirical, behavioural, post behavioral and the
Marxist.
• Expressing itself – institutional-positivist, empirical-behavioural
trends, dubbed the whole classical tradition as dull.
• Result – Great Debates – Important Innovations – Culminated
into – Broad Understanding of Modern Political Theory.
CLASSICAL POLITICAL THEORY MODERN POLITICAL THEORY
• Large First Opposing Division:
• Philosophical • Liberal including
• Normative individualistic
• Idealistic • The Elitist
• Historical • The Pluralist
Second opposing Division:
• The Marxist including The
Dialectical - materialist
Suggested Textbooks and Reference Materials
• Thiele, Leslie Paul. 2002. Thinking Politi cs: Perspecti ves in Ancient, Modern, and Postmodern Politi cal Theory.
Second Editi on. New York: Seven Bridges Press
• Pappas, Nickolas. 2005. Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Plato and the Republic. Second Editi on. London:
Routledge
• Crisp, Roger. 2004. Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy: Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics. United Kingdom:
Cambridge
• Newey, Glen. 2008. Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Hobbes and Leviathan. Oxon: Routledge
• Laslett , Peter. 1999. John Locke: Two Treati ses of Government. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press
• Gourevitch, Victor. 1997. Rousseau: The Social Contract and Other Later Politi cal Writi ngs. Great Britain:
Cambridge University Press
• Philp, Mark. 2015. John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, Uti litarianism, and Other Essays. United Kingdom: Oxford
Assignment:
• Distinguish the Historical Theoretical difference between
Classical and Modern Political Theory.
• Make a Comparison Lay out, on a short bond paper. Submit it on
September 2, 2022 at 1pm.
Historical Theoretical difference between Classical and
Modern Political Theory
Classical Political Theory Modern Political Theory
