Drishti IAS: Your Gateway to Success in Competitive Exams.

• Classical Theories:
  • Plato: Theory of Forms, ideal state, philosopher-king.
  • Aristotle: Classification of governments, theory of justice, concept of polity.
• Modern Political Thinkers:
  • Hobbes: Social contract theory, the state of nature, Leviathan.
  • Locke: Natural rights, government by consent, the right to revolution.
  • Rousseau: General will, social contract, criticism of private property.
• Marxist Theory:
  • Karl Marx: Historical materialism, class struggle, theory of surplus value.
  • Friedrich Engels: The role of ideology, collaboration with Marx.
• Postmodern and Contemporary Theories:
  • Michel Foucault: Power/knowledge, discourse analysis.
  • Jürgen Habermas: Theory of communicative action, public sphere.

Indian Political Thought

• Ancient Indian Political Thought:
  • Kautilya: Arthashastra, political realism, statecraft.
  • Bhagavad Gita: Duty (Dharma), righteousness, role of the warrior.
• Medieval and Modern Indian Political Thinkers: