Question

explain gandhian approach to politics and identify its core elements in about 500 words

Answer 1

Answer:

ok

Explanation:

Gandhian political theory has been broadly debated from two important perspectives. One argument places Gandhian political theory as a relative or a reconciled pattern of both Western and Eastern traditions. The other argument suggests that Gandhi is an original thinker, in the sense that he is a unique innovator of political concepts, inherently based on Indian traditions. In this way, it can be argued that Gandhi developed a distinctive and an alternative version of political theory compared to Western notion of political theory. I shall argue in the same line. My concern is to emphasize an alternative version of political theory that Gandhi had dealt with; it is to stress the essential character of Gandhian thread running through the traditional thought developed in India.

Gandhian political theory has been broadly debated from two important perspectives. One argument places Gandhian political theory as a relative or a reconciled pattern of both western and eastern traditions. The other argument suggests that Gandhi is an original thinker, in the sense that he is a unique innovator of political concepts, inherently based on Indian traditions. In this way, it can be argued that Gandhi developed a distinctive as well as an alternative version of political theory compared to western notion of political theory. However, he himself did not believe in any such absolute predictions or prescriptive norms of truth. He believed in no permanent truth (except God) and discarded his own ideas by saying that they are as old as the Himalayas. He also nullified the fact that there is nothing specific about Gandhism. I shall argue in the same line. My concern is to emphasize an alternative vision of political theory that Gandhi had dealt with; it is to stress the essential character of Gandhian thread running through the traditional thought developed in India.

This paper is divided into three parts, involving three important aspects of political theory. The first part attempts an analysis of the idea of political theory. This part involves a very brief account of the nature and function of political theory. The second part tries to give at the outset what constitutes the essential elements of Gandhian political theory. It deals with the essential aspects and functions of political theory which, in a way, undertakes an analysis of human nature, politics, state, power and democracy. The third part focuses on conceptual analysis of Gandhian political theory: freedom, equality, justice, rights and duties. And finally, the conclusion focuses on the contemporary relevance of Gandhian political theory.