Theories of the State: PSIR Optional PYQs

Theories of the State: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist (PSIR PYQs)

1. Examine critically the pluralist arguments against the theory of sovereignty. (1993)
2. Examine the main issues involved in the Church- State controversy. What were its consequences? (1993)
3. Comment: “As soon as a nation appoints representatives, it is no longer free, it no longer exists.” (Rousseau) (1994)
4. Comment: “I give the name to every state that is governed by laws, no matter what the form of its administration.” (Rousseau) (2000)
5. Critically examine Marxist theory of the state with reference to the dictatorship of the proletariat. (2001)
6. Comment: “Will, not force, is the basis of the state.” (T. H. Green) (2002)
7. Comment: “The reason why men enter into civil society is the preservation of their property.” (Locke) (2003)
8. Comment: “Society is federal, authority must be federal.” (Laski) (2004)
9. Comment: “The discovery of Sovereign in a federal state is an impossible adventure.” (Laski) (2005)
10. Comment: Impact of Globalisation on State Sovereignty. (2006)
11. Comment: “State is the result of the irreconcilability of class antagonism”. (Lenin) (2007)
12. Comment: “Because the society is federal, the authority must also be federal”. (Laski) (2007)
13. Critically examine Hamza Alavi’s formulation of the overdeveloped State. (2009)
14. Evaluate Marx’s instrumentalist approach to the State. (2010)
15. Do you think that the modern nation-state has been declining in the wake of globalization? Justify your answer. (2010)
16. Make all assessment of the post-colonial understanding of State. (2011)
17. What is meant by ‘relative autonomy of State in Marxist analysis? (2012)
18. Discuss in what sense Marx’s understanding of state can be considered as materialistic. (2013)
19. Examine the challenges to sovereignty of the State in the contemporary world. (2015)
20. Discuss Feminist theory of the State. (2016)
21. Comment on Neo-liberal perspective of State (150 words) (2017)
22. Critically examine the neo-liberal -theory of State. (2018)
23. Comment: Pluralist theory of the State (150 words) (2019)
24. What is the contemporary relevance of Marxism? (2019)
25. Comment in 150 words: Post-colonial theory of the state. (2020)
26. Comment in about 150 words: Feminist critique of the State. (2021)
27. Examine the liberal theory of State in contemporary politics. (2022)
28. Eurocentrism is both the target and the motive force of the post-colonial political theory. Discuss. (2023)
29. Write approximately 150 words on Pluralist theory of State. (2024)