In recent years, political theory has been revived by a series of ambitious works. This course will examine influential figures such as Rawls, Nozick, Walzer, Oakeshott and Okin. It will examine their accounts of basic political values, their visions of the 'good society', the nature of social justice and the distribution of wealth, central concepts such as equality, liberty and rights, legitimacy of the state and democracy. Socialist, feminist and ecological approaches to political theory will also be considered. The course will approach these questions in the light of the political realities of Western countries.

 After successful completion of this course, students should:

• Develop an appreciation of the ‘essentially contested' nature of basic concepts of political theory.
• Demonstrate knowledge of major competing interpretations of key concepts and their relationship to different ideological approaches.
• Demonstrate knowledge of some major contemporary political thinkers and their central arguments.
• Be able to engage critically with some major contemporary political thinkers and their central arguments.
• Continue to develop strong oral presentation, research, writing, critical and analytical skills.

Essay (2500 words)  (45%), second assignment (2000 words)  (45%) and tutorial work (10%).

Students will be expected to spend an average of seven hours per week in addition to three contact hours (two hours of lectures, one hour tutorial) in order to prepare for tutorials, conduct research and write the written assignments as well as to prepare for the final examination. Lectures will be recorded.  Notes will be available on the web.

Two first-year courses in Political Science or Philosophy or with the permission of the lecturer.

Kymlicka, W., Contemporary Political Philosophy, (Oxford)