This course offers a thorough, though far from exhaustive, overview of the depth and breadth of the discipline presented in the form of debates between thinkers and their perspectives. The course is adapted annually to include topical debates in the field. Its aim is to also help you choose and develop a topic for your Master's thesis.

Students independently prepare and lead the sessions; staff (including potential guest lecturers) are present and active only as expert witnesses, perhaps occasionally giving a brief introduction to a body of literature. The current research agenda of political theorists across the globe determines the choice of topics - with at least one topic to be freely, but collectively, chosen by the students. Even then, the course tries to steer clear of current affairs and politically hot topics; only intrinsically (i.e., philosophically) interesting questions can and will be addressed.

Previous debates (which may or may not return this year) were conspiracy theories, animal advocacy (rights, welfare and capabilities); justice from the perspective of socio-biology; the internet and political theory, the misfit between justice and democracy; true evil (from Robespierre to Dutroux); how to democratically constitute a 'people' without circular reasoning; 'hoes & bitches' versus 'power girls'; justice for future generations; religion, anti-religion and a-religious thought; Schmitt, Mouffe and agonism, etc.

At the end of the course, all students present a proposal for their Master thesis, on what should be the next logical step in a debate in political theory.