key prerequisites for students preparing for an advanced political science exam:
1. Foundational Knowledge of Political Theory and Philosophy
- Key Theorists: Familiarize with philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill, and Rawls.
- Concepts: Understand major political theories (e.g., social contract, utilitarianism, libertarianism, socialism, and democracy) and their applications.
2. Understanding Government Structures and Functions
- Types of Government: Differentiate between democracies, republics, authoritarianism, monarchies, and other government types.
- Branches of Government: Know the roles and relationships of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches in various political systems.
- Electoral Systems: Study systems like proportional representation, majoritarianism, and mixed systems.
3. Comparative Politics
- Political Systems Comparison: Be prepared to analyze and contrast political systems, especially federal vs. unitary systems, and presidential vs. parliamentary systems.
- Global Institutions: Understand the roles of the United Nations, International Court of Justice, European Union, and World Trade Organization.
4. International Relations and Foreign Policy
- Key Theories: Grasp theories like realism, liberalism, constructivism, and Marxism in the context of international relations.
- Diplomacy and Conflict: Learn concepts like balance of power, détente, soft power, hard power, and the causes of international conflicts.
- Current Events: Stay updated on current global politics, major international treaties, and recent geopolitical shifts.
5. Constitutional Law and Rights
- Constitutional Basics: Study the nature and types of constitutions (e.g., codified vs. uncodified).
- Civil Liberties and Rights: Be familiar with concepts like negative and positive liberty, civil rights, and the balance between individual freedoms and state authority.
- Judicial Review: Understand how judicial systems enforce and interpret constitutions and laws, particularly in democracies.
6. Political Ideologies and Movements
- Key Ideologies: Understand the foundations and goals of ideologies like liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, and fascism.
- Modern Movements: Learn about contemporary movements (e.g., environmentalism, feminism, populism) and their impact on policy and governance.
7. Research and Analytical Skills
- Research Methods: Familiarize with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in political science.
- Critical Analysis: Develop skills for analyzing political arguments, ideologies, and policies critically and effectively.
