Political Science Class 11

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Chapter 2 Freedom
What is meant by freedom? Is there a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for
the nation?
- Freedom is a situation that limits the constraints on individuals and allows them to expand their
ability and reach their potential.
- Freedom allows the full development of an individuals creativity, sensibility, capabilities and the
autonomy to make choices.
- It permits the individuals to exercise their power of reason and judgement.
- Yes, there is a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for the nation.
- A free nation allows the full development of individuals talent and ability by making fewer
constraints on individuals.
- An individual is said to be free only if s/he resides in a free nation.
- A nation is said to be free if it has freedom as one of its principles and only if it has provided this
to its people. In this way, individual freedom and national freedom are closely linked together.
Swaraj
- Rule and Raj
- Rule of the self and Rule over self
- Rule of the self explained by Gandhi in 1909 book Hind Swaraj
o Swaraj is not just freedom but liberation in redeeming ones self-respect, self-
responsibility, and capacities for self-realisation from institutions of dehumanisation.
- Tilak Swaraj is my birth right and Ill fight for it

What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty?
Negative liberty Defines the area and scope of ones life in which there can be absolutely no
interference by any external authority. Only concerned with the invioble area of non-interference and
not associated with conditions in society.
Positive Liberty Conditions set by the external authority for an individual to maximize his potential. It is
concerned with looking at the conditions and nature of the relationship between the individual and
society and of improving these conditions such that there are fewer constraints to the development of
the individual personality. [Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, Gandhi, Aurobindo]. The answer to Who Governs
Me? should be I govern myself


Negative liberty Positive liberty
1
It defines and defends the
area of an individuals life
where no external authority
can interfere. i.
It defines the area of society
where an individual can be free
with some constraints made by
the society and the government.
2
It is not concerned with the
conditions of the society. ii.
It is concerned with the enabling
conditions of the society.
3
It is concerned with explaining
the idea of freedom from. iii.
It is concerned with explaining the
idea of freedom to.
4
This area comes into personal
domain of the individual. iv.
This area comes into societal
domain of the individual.
5
More negative liberty leads to
more freedom. v.
More positive liberty checks
excess of freedom to an
individual, which could be an
obstruction for social stability.

What is meant by social constraints? Are constraints of any kind necessary for enjoying freedom?
- Social constraints are the external controls on individual freedom maintained by the society.
- The government, as a part of the society, controls individual freedom through laws that
embodies the power of the government and are legitimatised.
- Constraints on freedom are also a result of social inequality.
- Yes, constraints are essential to enjoy freedom.
- Constraints are necessary to develop respect for views and beliefs of others.
- It is necessary for the creation of a society.
- Absence of constraint would lead to imposition of beliefs and ideas of stronger groups
eventually leading to conflict.
- Constraints are required to control violence and settle disputes.
What is the role of the state in upholding freedom of its citizens?
- The state upholds the freedom of its citizens by providing certain rights to them.
- The state maintains justifiable constraints or reasonable restrictions on people so that they
cannot harm others and their freedom.
- It provides positive liberty to its citizens to enable them to expand their ability and talent.
- It defines and checks other regarding actions of its people in order to maintain social stability.
Harm Principle
- John Stuart Mill
- The harm principle holds that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm
to other individuals
- Harm should be serious
- Minor harm should only warrant societal disapproval
Chapter 3 : Equality

- People are naturally equal because of the common humanity.
- Two types of inequality
o Social Inequality exists because of unequal opportunities and exploitation of one group
from other groups in the society.
o Natural inequalities are those that emerge between people as a result of their different
capabilities and talents as held by the majority view. Eg Slavery justified by natural
inequality
- Three dimensions of equality
o Political equality
Right to vote etc
Ensure by legal measures
o Economic Equality
Absolute economic equality is not possible even though it is desirable. The most
a society can do is to try and reduce the gaps between the richest and poorest
members of society to bring economic equality.
o Social Equality
Equality of opportunities to social goods
- Inequalities which are entrenched, that is, which remain relatively untouched over generations,
are more dangerous for a society. Over time such class differences can give rise to resentment
and violence.
- Feminism
o Political doctrine of equal rights for men and women
o Inequality as a result of patriarchy
Patriarchy social, economic, political system values men more than women
and gives more power to men over women
o Feminists question this by making a disctinction between sex and gender
Sex biological difference
Gender societal difference in roles
Sex shouldnt be a factor in societal differences in roles
Females giving birth to children make only women responsible for child
rearing
- Marxism version of equality
o Root of entrenched inequality was private ownership of capital resources
o So, to tackle inequalities one has to do more than just give equal opportunities but
rather the state should take over essential resources and forms of property

- Liberal vision of equality
o Free and fair competition after providing equal opportunities to all most just and
liberal way to attain equality
o As long as competition is open and free, inequalities are less likely to get entrenched
o Unlike socialists, Liberals do not feel that social, econonomic and political inequalities
are linked
- Indias socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohias Sapta Krantis or seven revolutions aginst each of
the 7 inequalities present in Indian Society
o Gender, caste, skin, colonial rule, economic, civil rights against encroachments in private
life, revolution for non-violence
o It isnt just enough to fight for economic inequalities as all the above inequalities had
independent roots and needed to be fought against
- Promoting equality
o Establishing Formal Equality
Through legal systems ie F.Rights etc
o Equality through different treatment
Certain people have differences, so we need to provide favourable conditions to
such people so they can enjoy equal rights
Ie providing ramps for disabled
o Affirmative Action
When we wish to eliminate inequalities that are deeply rooted, it is necessary to
take some more positive measures to minimise and eliminate entrenched forms
of social inequalities. Most policies of affirmative action are thus designed to
correct the cumulative effect of past inequalities
These communities who have suffered in the past and been denied equal
opportunities cannot be immediately expected to compete with others on equal
terms.
Chapter 4 : Social Justice
- The idea of Justice in Indian civilization Dharma or creation of just order
- Giving his person his due
- Kant Human Beings known to possess dignity and every person can get his due by getting
equal opportunities to develop their talents and pursue their goals
- Principles of Justice
o Equal Laws for Equals
All human beings share common humanity so they deserve equal rights and
treatment
Civil Rights, Political Rights, Economic Rights
Protection against discrimination on various grounds
o Proportionate Justice
This principle indicates rewarding people in proportion to the scale and quality
of their effort
For justice in society, the principle of equal treatment needs to be balanced with
the principle of proportionality
o Recognition of Special Needs
society to take into account special needs of people while distributing rewards
or duties
On the basis of caste, age etc
- Just Distribution
o Social Justice also has to deal with the just distribution of goods and services between
nations or individuals within society
o If there are strak economic/social inequalities, might be necessary to redistribute some
of the resources
- John Rawls Theory of Justice
o How a society should be modeled should be thought about with a veil of ignorance
o envisage the future society from the point of view of the worst-off giving reasonable
opportunities to the weaker sections
o society as a whole should benefit from the rules and policies that are decided and not
just any particular section
o Rational Thinking over Morality
Chapter 5 : Rights
- Right an entitlement or a justified claim
o Necessary for leading a life of respect and dignity
o Well-being and attaining ones potential
o Universal rights
- We are born with rights (derived from natural law)
o Rights to life, liberty and property as mentioned by theoriest in 17
th
, 18
th
political
theorists
o Oppose the arbitrary powers of the govt
o Now human rights being in stead of natural rights
Rights are not set by nature/god but all humans are entitled to rights because
they are human beings
UN Declaration of Human Rights
- Legal Rights and the State
o Govt support of Human rights translate into legal rights
o Obligation on states to act on these rights
o Rights protect against oppression
- Kinds of Rights
o