Week 1: Introduction to the course
Week 2: Machiavelli Modern political theory
Tuesday: Morality in politics?
Thursday: Liberty and democratic citizenship
Week 3: Hobbes vs. Locke on political authority
Tuesday: The state of nature
Thursday: Two alternative contracts
Week 4: Rousseau’s democratic contract
Tuesday: Inequality and power
Thursday: Democracy and the ‘general will’
Week 5: Kant and cosmopolitanism
Tuesday: Property and progress
Thursday: The federation of states
Week 6: Marx’s socialism
Tuesday: Against liberalism
Thursday: What is socialism?
Week 7: Preparation of mid-term assignment
Week 8: Freedom Contemporary issues
Tuesday: ‘Negative’ vs. ‘positive’ freedom
Thursday: Free markets
Week 9: Life and death
Tuesday: Abortion and euthanasia
Thursday: Guns and drugs
Week 10: Equality
Tuesday: Equality of what?
Thursday: Healthcare reform and equality
Week 11: Global justice
Tuesday: Immigration in the U.S.
Thursday: Climate change
Week 12: Democracy
Tuesday: Democratic decision-making
Thursday: Occupy and political reform
Week 13: Conflict
Tuesday: Religion in politics
Thursday: Syria, Iran and terrorism
Week 14: Preparation for final exam