The 21st Political Science Teachers Conference concentrates on a critical interrogation of the dynamic interrelationships between the State, Society, Market, and the Individual. These entities constitute the foundational pillars of political inquiry and action. As the 21st century unfolds amidst technological revolutions, global realignments, and growing social unrest, political science must evolve as a discipline that not only studies power but also questions its manifestations.

    Understanding the dynamic relationships between the State, Society, Market, and the Individual is central to analyzing contemporary political, economic, and social systems. These four elements interact in complex, often contradictory ways, shaping collective actions, individual lives and societal outcomes. Investigating these intersections allows us to uncover the deeper forces that structure social realities and informs more effective responses to the challenges of our time.

       Society continuously reinvents the project of critical thinking through two key processes: first, by treating itself as an object of inquiry, and second, by challenging the general assumptions and exclusionary effects of the existing social order. In this context, three prominent questions emerge:

1. How should we rethink social relations and interactions today?

2. What new institutional and discursive configurations of power are emerging?

3. How can we understand the contemporary socio-cultural movements shaping polity and governance?

Interrogating society requires moving beyond surface-level observations to critically examine causes and consequences of social phenomena. This involves identifying entrenched power structures, social inequalities, and internal contradictions.

     From a market perspective, interrogation yields theoretical and practical insights aligned with evolving global realities. As a core institution of political economy, the market is entangled with critical themes such as wealth generation, power, contestation, and transformation. Today's markets—both local and global—are undergoing profound changes shaped by technological revolutions, globalization, and policy shifts. However, markets are not self-contained; they operate under the regulatory influence of the state and are molded by societal needs and individual choices. In the current global order, states are simultaneously empowered and constrained by their roles in market regulation, digital governance and international trade regimes. The resurgence of trade wars, particularly among dominant powers like the US and China underscores the fragility of multilateral institutions such as the WTO and threatens the vision of a just and peaceful global order.

     The corporate-driven market, enabled by state power and societal compliance, now wields immense influence over political, economic, cultural, and social systems. Both democratic and non-democratic institutions appear increasingly vulnerable to corporate interests, often at the expense of the welfare state and subaltern communities. In countries like India, marginalized populations continue to struggle for dignity, rights, and a decent quality of life—fueling growing resistance movements that challenge the status quo. Hence, interrogating political science through a market lens is not just an economic exercise it is an inquiry into the ideological, institutional, and cultural foundations that construct, regulate, and contest markets.

     Ultimately, analyzing the interplay between state, society, market, and individual illuminates the web of power, governance and agency that defines modern life. Political science, with its theoretical and empirical methodologies, offers a framework to explore these relationships in pursuit of legitimacy, equity, and change. This three-day conference aims to deepen the understanding of these interactions through scholarly case studies and critical discussions by distinguished experts, contributing to the enrichment of the discipline and envisioning a more inclusive future for humanity.