A discussion of some of the fundamental issues raised by past and present political thinkers, undertaken through study of important theoretical texts. Issues to be raised include: justification of different types of political system (democracy, anarchy, dictatorship); contract theories and theories of state; the language of rights (its meaning, function, and value); duty and limits of obedience; the problem of minorities; liberty (positive and negative); justice (formal and substantive); state and civil society; social-economic systems (capitalism, socialism, welfare state) and conceptions of freedom and justice which support them; sources of legitimacy; domination; and civil disobedience.
