Using some of the foremost texts of Western political thought, students will critically examine the contemporary political world along with their own beliefs and values. By exploring the writings of theorists such as Plato, Machiavelli, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and Nietzsche, students will gain an understanding of the wide range of different ways that these thinkers have answered key political questions. Students will become familiar with key concepts and ideas dealt with in the tradition of Western political thought, as well as the historical context from which they emerged. Students will refine and develop their analytical writing skills and will be better able to understand and engage with many of the theoretical debates that underwrite contemporary politics.