Part Five V › Division IV IV › Section 541 541

Political Theory

Subject Outline

AThe national state as viewed in political theory
- 1Properties of statehood: sovereignty
- 2The state and the individual
- 3The national state in the international community [see also 552.B.]
- 4Various conceptions of the bases of legitimacy and authority of government
  - aContinuing consent of the governed: popular sovereignty
  - bThe social contract
  - cVenerable sanction: hereditary monarchy, constitutional succession
  - dDivine right: God as the source of political authority
- 5Theories of constitutionalism, modern constitutional governments [see also 551.B.4.]
  - aOrigins and theories of constitutional government
  - bFeatures of constitutional government
  - cMethods of constitutional growth: evolution and substantive replacement
BPatterns of political action as viewed in political theory
- 1Political action within small groups, villages, or communities
- 2Political action by organized parties
- 3Political action by special-interest groups
- 4The political influence of public opinion
CPolitical concepts, ideologies, and problems
- 1The concept of political power
- 2The concept of human rights
- 3Modern ideologies
  - aThe importance of ideology to a political system or movement: the relationship between ideological and civil politics
  - bCurrent political ideologies and tendencies
    - iAnarchism
    - iiCommunism
    - iiiConservatism
    - ivFascism
    - vLiberalism
    - viMarxism
    - viiNationalism
    - viiiSocialism
- 4Contemporary political issues and problems
  - aThe problem of church and state: its background and contemporary form
  - bThe urban problem: the administration of cities and metropolitan areas [see also 524.B. and 542.A.1.C.]
  - cThe problem of international cooperation and integration [see also 544.A.]
  - dThe issue of centralization of power versus decentralization
  - eThe problem of adapting traditional political forms to changing conditions