Political Theories -- An Overview

I.    Political Theories

    A.    Relevance and Significance

    B.    Fundamental Essence

   C.    Three Elements

        1.    descriptive

        2.    normative

        3.    prescriptive

II.    Classical Theories

    A.    Plato

    B.    Aristotle

    C.    Machiavelli

III.    The Contractualists

    A.    Hobbes

    B.    Locke

    C.    Rousseau

IV.    The Institutionalists

V.    Contemporary Theories

    A.    Behavioralism

    B.    Post-Behavioralism

    C.    Systems Theories

    D.    Modernization and Development Theories

    E.    Rational Choice Theory

    F.    The New Institutionalism

VI.    Three Broad Historical Stages of Political Theories

    A.    The Theory of the City State

    B.    The Theory of the Universal Community

    C.    The Theory of the National State