What political theory studies

Beneath the movement and change around us lie values and principles that inspire people and guide policies: democracy, freedom, equality, justice. Countries protect them in their constitutions, such as the American and Indian ones. These documents were built on ideas debated over centuries.

Thinkers and their ideas:

• As far back as the fifth century BC, Plato and Aristotle discussed with their students whether monarchy or democracy was better. Kautilya in ancient India also wrote on statecraft.
• In modern times, Jean Jacques Rousseau first argued for freedom as a fundamental right of humankind.
• Karl Marx argued that equality was as crucial as freedom.
• Mahatma Gandhi discussed the meaning of genuine freedom, swaraj, in his book *Hind Swaraj*.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar argued that the scheduled castes must be considered a minority and receive special protection.

These ideas are in the Indian Constitution: the Preamble enshrines freedom and equality; the chapter on Rights abolishes untouchability in any form; Gandhian principles appear in the Directive Principles.

What political theory does: it deals systematically with the ideas and principles that shape constitutions, governments and social life. It clarifies concepts such as freedom, equality, justice, democracy and secularism, and principles such as the rule of law, separation of powers and judicial review, by examining thinkers' arguments. Rousseau, Marx and Gandhi were not politicians, yet their ideas shaped generations of politicians. Theorists also reflect on current experience and point to trends.

Is it still relevant in free, democratic India? Yes:

• Equality is uneven. People may have equal political rights but still face discrimination because of caste or poverty; some lack even basic necessities or cannot go to school. For them, freedom is still a distant dream.
• Rights keep being reinterpreted, as players learn new meanings of a game's rules. The courts have read the right to life to include the right to livelihood; the right to information came through a new law.
• New threats appear. Global communications help activists protect forests or tribal cultures, but also help criminals. As online shopping grows, the personal information we share must be protected. Even 'netizens' who dislike control accept some regulation for security and privacy, raising questions such as: should governments read private e-mails to track terrorists, and who should regulate?

Example (new): when a mobile app asks for access to your contacts and location to deliver groceries, the question of how much of your data it may keep, and who decides, is a live question about freedom.