Political Science MCQs
Topic Notes: Political Science
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
91
Which one of the following is not true about private property?
Answer:
It has checked division of society into classesE. It has given incentive to people to work hard
Source answer preserved: option D (It has checked division of society into classesE. It has given incentive to people to work hard). AI attempted to change protected answer data (option_d), so this item is flagged for manual review before study use.
92
The mechanistic interpretation of the state, which views it as a tool created by individuals, is most closely associated with which doctrine?
Answer:
Individualism
The mechanistic view of the state posits that the state is an artificial construct designed to serve the interests of individuals. This perspective is central to Individualism, which prioritizes the rights and autonomy of the individual over the state. By treating the state as a machine or a contract, individualist thinkers argue that its legitimacy is derived solely from its ability to protect individual liberties and property rights.
93
What is the fundamental premise of the Patriarchal theory regarding the origin of the state?
Answer:
The eldest male member was the head of the family
The Patriarchal theory, notably associated with Sir Henry Maine, posits that the state evolved from the expansion of the family unit. In this view, the family was governed by the eldest male, and as families grew into clans and tribes, this patriarchal authority expanded, eventually forming the basis for the political authority found in the state.
94
What is the primary emphasis of the legal theory of the state?
Answer:
The states make laws for the maintenance of law and order and protection of rights
The legal theory of the state posits that the state is a legal entity created to establish order and protect the rights of its citizens. It emphasizes that the primary function of the state is the enactment and enforcement of laws to maintain social stability and ensure the security of individuals. While other theories focus on the origin or sovereignty of the state, this view centers on its functional role in governance.
95
Which scholar famously argued that the social contract theory is detrimental to political truth?
Answer:
Sir Fredrick Pollock
Sir Frederick Pollock, a noted legal historian, was critical of the social contract theory, viewing it as a historical fiction that obscured the actual evolution of political institutions. He argued that such theories were 'fatal to political impostures' because they relied on abstract, unhistorical assumptions about the state of nature rather than empirical evidence of how societies and governments actually developed over time.
96
Which political theorist argued that the organic theory of the state is an unreliable guide for understanding state activity?
Answer:
Gettell
Raymond G. Gettell, in his analysis of political theories, critiqued the organic theory of the state. He argued that comparing the state to a biological organism is a metaphorical oversimplification that fails to account for the complexities of human agency, legal structures, and the voluntary nature of political association.
97
Which scholar is primarily associated with the Patriarchal theory regarding the origins of the state?
Answer:
Henry Maine
Sir Henry Maine is the most prominent proponent of the Patriarchal theory, which posits that the state evolved from the expansion of the family unit. In his work 'Ancient Law', Maine argued that the patriarchal family, led by the eldest male, was the fundamental unit of society, and that through the aggregation of these families, tribes and eventually states were formed.
98
Who are the primary proponents associated with the Evolutionary (or Historical) Theory of the state?
Answer:
Burgess and Leacock
The Evolutionary Theory suggests that the state is the result of a long, gradual process of development involving kinship, religion, war, and political consciousness. John W. Burgess and Stephen Leacock are widely recognized in political science textbooks as the leading scholars who articulated and popularized this theory, distinguishing it from artificial theories like the social contract.
99
What is the core belief of the historical theory regarding the origin of rights?
Answer:
Are the product of evolution
The historical theory of rights posits that rights are not created by a single act of a sovereign or a divine decree, but are the result of long-standing customs, traditions, and social practices that have evolved over time. This perspective emphasizes that rights emerge organically from the historical development of a community's shared values and experiences, rather than being granted by an external authority.
100
How do individualist theorists characterize the nature and role of the state?
Answer:
A necessary evil
Individualists, particularly classical liberals, argue that the state is a 'necessary evil.' It is considered 'necessary' because it provides essential functions like security and contract enforcement, but an 'evil' because its coercive power inherently restricts individual liberty. Therefore, its scope should be strictly limited to prevent overreach into private life.