Politics cannot grow in isolation; at the same time society learns from the changing ethos of polity. A relatively young subject, Political Sociology tries to seek research excellence, in its process of evolution. This book on Political Sociology deals with different variables of society which influence various facets of political dynamics. It also analyzes attitude and behavioural pattern of the public who act as political actors. As a branch of political science, the book draws attention to the very nature of this inter-disciplinary study. All the chapters are conceptualized to strengthen the bond between the polity and the society and vice-versa. This book is an attempt to widen the frontier of political science with an empirical approach. Intended for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Political Science and Sociology, the book will enrich the students indulged in research works and those who are preparing for the Civil Services examinations as well.

Political sociology deals with patterns of social stratification and their consequences in organized politics. It is one particular approach to the study of social organization and societal change. By contrast, in narrower terms, political sociology focuses on the organizational analysis of political groups and political leadership. In this perspective, the core of political sociology involves the study of both formal and informal party organization, with its linkages to the governmental bureaucracy, the legal system, interest groups, and the electorate at large. This approach is an expression of an institutional or organizational point of view. As societies strive to become modernized and as the role of formally organized political parties becomes more and more dominant, it appears difficult to make a sharp distinction between the social stratification and the institutional approaches to political sociology. Nevertheless, these perspectives assume persistently different conceptions about the political process and are reflections of the basic writings of Karl Marx and Max Weber, respectively, both of whom have deeply influenced the emergence of the sociology of politics. In the nineteenth century, the development of representative institutions meant the extension of suffrage and an increase in the importance of parliament as a device for sharing political power and resolving political conflict. This book is essential reading for practicing researchers, students and scholars of subject and also the informed/interested general reader. Contents: • Theoretical Perspectives • Contemporary Issues: Socio-Cultural • The Nature of Caste-inequalities in India • Contemporary Issues: Development • Issues Pertaining to Deviance • Current Debates

Comparative Politics, Which Helps In The Study Of Ever Increasing Political Problems In A Scientific And Systematic Way, Has WitNessed Not Only Development On A Scale NevEr Reached So Far But Has Become More And More Popular In These Days. Moreover, By Providing Fresh And Exciting New LaboratoRies For The Analysis Of Political Developments, The Emerging States Of Asia, Africa, South East Asia, Latin America And Middle East, Have Significantly Expanded The Universe Of Comparative Politics. In Spite Of All These Development, Not Many Broad-Ranged Books On This Discipline Are Available To The Indian Students. Thus, In Order To Introduce The Indian Students To The Subject Of 'Comparative Politics', The Present Volume Though Rich In Material, Written In Simple Language And Handy In Size, Is Designed To Present A Simplified Description Of Different Aspects Of Comparative Politics. The Book Will Not Only Cater Well To The Requirements Of Those Engaged In The Study Of Comparative Politics For Postgraduate Degree In Indian Universities But Also Be Equally Useful To Those Interested In Acquiring A Core Knowledge Of This Fast Expanding Discipline Of Political Science.

Dear readers, before you read chapters of this book, I think you should know the genesis of this book. This book contains fourteen articles, written by twenty-two scholars and academicians. Articles are trying to explore how we see Gender Stereotypes in society, culture, media and politics. All authors tried to explore the concept on different dimensions. Editor, Dr. Amrita first came up with this idea almost one year ago. She already published some books on “Women Security” and pursuing research on different women security issues for longtime. But she questions always, “why people still equate women with gender”. Here comes ‘gender’ stereotypes. In social science writings or academic discussions, people always equate with women issues with gender issues and issues of male and transgender got neglected. That’s why she teamed with another erudite and energetic male researcher, Mr. Manoj Kumar, who is currently working in IIHSG, and started the book editing process. I hope you all will enjoy reading this book as you will find diversified issues from diversified authors from different regions, age group and social group, touching topics like the Nexus of Human Security and the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic: Gendering European Union Security Strategies; Silenced Voices: Women, Conflict and Sexual Violence in International Law; Gender Stereotyping of AI Powered Humanoid Robot in Indian Hindi Cinema & Hollywood: A Case Study; Breaking the Mold: Women’s Struggle for Political Voice In India; The Experiences of Transitional Aged LGBTQ+ Youth in the Era of Covid 19: A Systematic Review; Women, Political Process and Grassroot Politics in Jharkhand: A Comparative Study of Rural and Urban Women; Alive on the Thrilling Marginal: Social Exclusion of Transgender People; Towards Gender Security: Understanding and Addressing Violence; Analyzing Perceptions of Educated People on Gender Stereotypes seen in Advertisements and Media; Gender Narratives: Navigating Stereotypes and Biases; Experiences of Marginalization among Gender Non- Conforming People; The Sex role Stereotyping and gender in John Fowles- The French Lieutenant’s Women; Culture, Religion, State and Bodies of Women; and Sociology of Gender. Titles of the paper prove that this book is successful in presenting a holistic view in front e readers. The volume is essential reading for social scientists, bureaucrats and non-governmental political activists interested in gender identity and security. It will also appeal to public policy analysts and scholars who have yet to adopt the contribution of critical security and development studies in the analysis of gender.

Women, who constitute almost half of the world’s population, perform nearly two thirds of all working hours, receives one tenth of world’s income and own less than 1 percent of world’s property are identified as most vulnerable subaltern group. The subordinate status of women as second fiddle to their male counterpart has been legitimized in the psycho-socio-economic-cultural domain/tradition. Women, cutting across caste, class, wellbeing and culture are denied of their own ontology/autonomy, being and becoming, a clear image or self esteem. Back home, in India the position of women in just as an image of domestic doulas, a prisoner of the comfortable concentration camp. The Indian women suffer from lack of self and space, disempowerment, disprivilege, disadvantage, sexist discrimination, gender inequality, invisibility, asymmetries and marginalization. Despite of the principles of gender equality being enshrined in our constitution and despite the state being empowered to adopt measure of positive discrimination in favour of women, still in India they continue to bear the brunt of societal discrimination. It we look at any development parameters say it is health, education, employment, mortality rate; we find the women in India are on very weak footing. The low social status of women in India is clearly visible from global Human Development Index, which ranks India as 118 among 177 nations on gender equality. To address the issue of gender inequality and for attainment of a gender just society, ‘empowerment of women’ appeared to be significant social and political developments of 20th century, marked a turning point in the history of unequal gender relations, paving the way for a major civilizational transformation. Today, in 21st century the concept of empowerment of women has become central to every development received wide acclamation in the 4th World conference on women held in Beijing in 1995, which observed that “women empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision making process and access to power, are fundamental for the advancement of equality, development and peace.” However, the campaign for women empowerment became foremost feminist agenda since mid 1980s. The concept of ‘women empowerment’, as looked by Prof. Amartya Sen, is a process by which a woman is ensured with access and choice. It is a process of equipping the women with power, opportunities to assert for her rights and identity in the society. It is against the practice of segregation and subjugation of women and makes an advocacy or the integration of women and identity formation by the women in the local, national and the global forum. However, the entire process of women’s journey from endowment to empowerment, the picture looks quite gloomy, as if their century’s long struggle finds them in whithertheir position. To achieve genuine empowerment, women of India have to swim upstream so as to be able to defeat the traditional forces of logo centrism of the norm-based society. This edited volume is concerned with issues pertaining to gender inequality and women empowerment. One of the most urgent challenges now facing human kind is to halt and reverse the growing deterioration in the gender relations that has augmented social disharmony and imbalances. Every country, large and small irrespective of its richness and culture is confronted with this basic human question of gender equality and gender justice. With the emergence of globalization, with free market economy, gender issues effecting status of women and their empowerment question has taken a changed dimension attracting research concern and scholarly attention. Since many issues and current developments concerning status of women are now in the history of gender relations, more research is needed to unfold the myth and reality. This edited volume, aims at and ready to tell how women empowerment has reached to its present state. This volume also examines the rapid changes in gender relations since the 4th International conference on women at Beijing in 1995 and defines the important shifts in the domain of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Even in India, the elite patriarch monopolizing state power, once considered the driving force for gender equality are moving away from their commitment, which was very much proved with the defeat of the women reservation bill in the Parliament. This exposes the approach of grand Indian political patriarch to the whole question of gender equality and women empowerment leaving the space for civil society to intervene and act towards its defence. In this volume, attempt has been made to include and accommodate various issue and dimensions of gender relations, gender inequality and gender gap, national and international initiative to address growing societal insensitiveness towards the women, the changing realities pertaining gender equality and women empowerment impacting their present status. This volume, however sought response to some fundamental question on the issue such as, Do women adequately figure in the development retaining their identity? Have the women came out of the cultural and environmental constraints to take effective roles in public domain. At this backdrop the editors hope that this volume through empirical findings and theoretical insights of different authors/ contributors may provide answers to some aspects of these questions.

A HANDBOOK OF SOCIOLOGY Sociology is the scientific study of human social behaviour and its origins, development, organizations, and institutions. It is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social actions, social structure and functions. A goal for many sociologists is to conduct research that may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, while others focus primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of social processes. Subject matter ranges from the micro-level of individual agency and interaction to the macro level of systems and the social structure. The social world is changing. Some argue it is growing; others say it is shrinking. The important point to grasp is: society does not remain unchanged over time. As will be discussed in more detail below, sociology has its roots in significant societal changes. Early practitioners developed the discipline as an attempt to understand societal changes. Some early sociological theorists were disturbed by the social processes they believed to be driving the change, such as the quest for solidarity, the attainment of social goals, and the rise and fall of classes, to name a few examples. The founders of sociology were some of the earliest individuals to employ what C. Wright Mills labeled the sociological imagination: the ability to situate personal troubles within an informed framework of social issues. This book deals with all the development in the field of sociology in a historical context. This book is useful for sociologists researchers and social reformers. Contents: • Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology • Heo-Functionalism and Neo-Mawdsm • Structurisation and Post-Modernism • Conceptualising Indian Society

In the third and final volume of this series, we examine the implications of the accelerating globalization process for the nation-state. Are globalization, the rise of regional and international institutions, and the international agreements on human rights actually reducing and transforming state sovereignty? Clearly ethnic, racial, and religious identities remain salient, but how do they correspond to, intersect with, and overflow continuous nation-state spaces that are demarcated by legally recognized borders? In what conditions do democratic state-building projects actually enhance political, civil, and social rights, and when do they tend to contribute to the consolidation of elite power? Should democratic forces put their faith in a cosmopolitan vision of global citizenship, especially when they tackle quintessentially international and transnational problems like peace, aboriginal rights, and the protection of the environment? In this volume's collection of contemporary political sociologists' key articles, we present work that explores the exposure of the nation-state and the post-World War II world system to global forces.

On the Vaisyas caste of Andhra Pradesh, India.