Top books for MA political science students

If you are pursuing an MA in Political Science, it can be beneficial to be well-read in matters that concern society and the environment around you. A fair knowledge of the current affairs concerning the Indian and the global society can prove to be a bonus to the existing curriculum that the course entails. This is why it is useful to study outside of the prescribed books for a Master’s in Political Science. This blog aims to provide helpful political science book recommendations to students of the subject, to help them expand their knowledge base in the domain.

Top books for political science students

If you are an avid learner of the political science subject and keen on broadening your perspective, here are some must-read books for MA political science students that can prove to be particularly helpful:

1. The Prince: It is a short political paper by Niccolo Machiavelli, written in 1513, on how to assume power, establish a state, and maintain it. The paper serves as a political guide based on the lessons drawn from Italian history.

2. Second Treatise of Government: Written by John Locke in 1689, the treatise directly reflects the political scenario in England during that period. Locke affirms in his treatise the moral political power of the state to create and enforce laws for the overall good of the public at large. 

3. The Republic: One of the most popular books for political science students, The Republic was written by Plato in 375 B.C. A philosopher from Athens, Plato is renowned for being among the first Western thinkers to connect philosophy with politics. He argued that a just society was based on a harmonious relationship between the 3 groups – auxiliaries or soldiers, producers or farmers, and guardians or rulers. 

4. Leviathan: A book by Thomas Hobbes in 1651, Leviathan is set against the backdrop of the civil war in England when the parliament was looking to dethrone Charles I and form a republic in the country. Hobbes’s argument was based on the premise that humans are accustomed to living in a state of anarchy and that a “social contract” between people and the state is likely to remove complete domination. 

5. The Social Contract: The famous theory by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract was written in 1762 during the period that led up to the French Revolution. Written by Rousseau, a philosopher in France, his theory argues that laws can only be binding when they are supported by the people’s general will.

Why choose an MA in political science?

After detailing an overview of the most popular political science literature for MA students, let us take a quick look at how an online Master’s in political science can help students:

• It expands your knowledge base: An MA in political science helps enhance your know-how about varied domains in the political arena, such as government schemes, public policies, political activities, and also the thought processes of major political thinkers and reformers.

• It opens up career pathways: Graduates with an MA in political science can look forward to rewarding career prospects in NGOs, research organizations, the government, public interest groups, and academia. 

• It offers flexibility: Pursuing the degree online enables you to study at your own pace and time, allowing you to balance your studies with other areas of your life.

• It enhances the scope for networking: Online group discussions with peers and other industry experts who are a part of online MA political science courses facilitate opportunities for networking among students. This can prove beneficial in looking for suitable career opportunities after graduation.

• Online degrees are equivalent in value to offline ones: Along with the flexibility and comfort of pursuing studies from home, yet another advantage of pursuing an MA in political science online is that it is at par with its conventional campus counterparts. Degrees pursued online from a recognized university hold as much relevance and value in the industry as those completed at a traditional physical university.

Career path after MA in political science

Now that we understand the relevance and importance of pursuing a Master’s in political science, let us look at some of the top job roles that you can be eligible for after graduation:

Expected job role	Average annual salary (approx)
Economist	INR 11,71,394 per annum
Political Scientist	INR 750,000 per annum
Journalist	INR 6,70,572 per annum
Intelligence Analyst	INR 6,40,000 per annum
Legislative Assistant	INR 4,25,041 per annum

Conclusion

A Master’s in Political Science provides a guided framework to students for taking the next step in their career in related domains. It enhances their knowledge base and equips them with the desired skill set for a progressive career path. What also helps along the way is regular reading of relevant political literature that offers deeper insights into the history of the world and a complete perspective of the political scenarios in different countries during different eras.

Some of the best-recommended readings for MA political science students have been highlighted in this blog. These books can help expand your mind to learn more about what prevailed in different periods in different parts of the world, while also supplementing your current curriculum for political science Master’s courses. 

Pursuing the degree online can also be helpful, offering convenience in learning while also helping learn the required skills for a rewarding career in politics and related domains. Sikkim Manipal University offers an online MA in Political Science on the Online Manipal platform. The course is designed to help students advance their learning in the world of politics from the comfort of their homes and move on to progressive career paths in the domain.