BPSC-103 IGNOU Solved Assignment 2026-27

BPSC-103 Solved Assignment: Political Theory Concepts and Debates (TMA)

The following is a structured breakdown of the BPSC-103 Solved Assignment for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Political Science program, covering all mandatory blocks as per the official IGNOU curriculum. Each unit includes verified answers, critical analysis, and references to core texts for academic integrity.

Block 1: Liberty Core Concepts and Critiques

This block examines the philosophical foundations of liberty, contrasting classical liberalism (e.g., John Locke’s natural rights) with modern critiques (e.g., Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between negative and positive liberty). Key questions include:

• How does Hobbes’ Leviathan reconcile individual liberty with social order?
• Analyze Rawls’ critique of utilitarianism in relation to liberty.

Sample Answer Structure:

1. Define liberty using Locke’s social contract theory (500 words).
2. Compare Berlin’s negative liberty with Foucault’s critique of disciplinary power (250 words).
3. Discuss how liberty intersects with equality in Rawls’ Theory of Justice (100 words).

Block 3: Justice Distributive Theories and Moral Frameworks

This unit explores justice through Rawlsian liberalism, Nozick’s entitlement theory, and feminist critiques (e.g., Nancy Fraser’s intersectionality). Focus areas include:

• Rawls’ veil of ignorance and its application to resource distribution.
• Nozick’s challenge to egalitarianism via historical justice.

Solved Assignment Highlights:

1. Evaluate Rawls’ difference principle in a post-colonial context (500 words).
2. Compare Sen’s capabilities approach with Nozick’s minimal state (250 words).
3. Critique feminist critiques of Rawls’ Original Position (100 words).

Block 5: Major Debates Sovereignty vs. Cosmopolitanism

This block dissects contemporary debates like Westphalian sovereignty (e.g., Hobbes vs. Kant) and cosmopolitan governance (e.g., Held’s Democracy and the Global Order). Key themes:

• Is sovereignty obsolete in the age of globalism?
• How does Habermas’ communicative ethics challenge state-centric justice?

Assignment Compliance:

1. Analyze Kant’s Perpetual Peace in light of modern humanitarian interventions (500 words).
2. Discuss Held’s critique of Westphalian sovereignty (250 words).
3. Link sovereignty debates to India’s foreign policy (100 words).

FAQs for BPSC-103 TMA