Fundamentals of Political Sociology
Contents: Preface. 1. Concepts of political sociology. 2. Political participation. 3. Political sociology and social movements. 4. Political sociology of poverty. 5. Evolution of a sociological concept. 6. Political obligation. 7. Political parties, pressure groups and lobbies. 8. Political behaviour and citizen politics. 9. Public policy. 10. Indian public and political administration. 11. Sociological aspects of administrative ethics. 12. The historical development of the state. Bibliography. Index.
Political sociology looks at how major social trends can affect the political process, as well as exploring how various social forces work together to change political policies. Political sociologists apply several theories to substantive issues. Three major theoretical frameworks are pluralism, elite or managerial theory and class analysis which overlaps with Marxist analysis. Pluralism sees politics primarily as a contest among competing interest groups. Elite or managerial theory is sometimes called a state-centred approach. It explains what the state does by looking at constraints from organizational structure, semiautonomous state managers, and interests that arise from the state as a unique, power concentrating organization. Besides, it presents a combination of the analytical and critical approaches to the study of political sociology. Tracing the evolution of political sociology in Indian and broad as a specialized field of study, it discusses the major issues of the discipline. An essential reading for the students of social sciences in general and of sociology and political science in particular. (jacket)
Political sociology looks at how major social trends can affect the political process, as well as exploring how various social forces work together to change political policies. Political sociologists apply several theories to substantive issues. Three major theoretical frameworks are pluralism, elite or managerial theory and class analysis which overlaps with Marxist analysis. Pluralism sees politics primarily as a contest among competing interest groups. Elite or managerial theory is sometimes called a state-centred approach. It explains what the state does by looking at constraints from organizational structure, semiautonomous state managers, and interests that arise from the state as a unique, power concentrating organization. Besides, it presents a combination of the analytical and critical approaches to the study of political sociology. Tracing the evolution of political sociology in Indian and broad as a specialized field of study, it discusses the major issues of the discipline. An essential reading for the students of social sciences in general and of sociology and political science in particular. (jacket)
