1. Review 8 October 2008

2. Ancient Conceptions of Politics What role does justice play in Cleon and Diodotus' speeches on the Mytilenian debate? What role does justice play in Thucydides’ view of international relations? Describe the Melian debate. Does Thucydides sympathize with the Melian, the Athenian, or neither position?

3. Ancient Conceptions of Politics What does Aristotle mean by saying that the state is natural? What is the difference between this view of the state and the view that the state is a kind of social contract? What is a natural slave? Does Aristotle think that natural slaves exist? Does Aristotle condemn or defend democracy? What role can “the many” play in political decisions?

4. Just War What is necessary for a war to be just? Would those conditions be found in a contemporary case, e.g., Iraq? What is Erasmus’ challenge to just war theory? Does Erasmus deny that there can be just wars? What are the key just causes of war in the conquest of the Americas, for Vitoria? Does Vitoria believe the Spanish are justified in waging war against the natives of the Americas?

5. New Conceptions of Politics What constitutes a free regime, according to Machiavelli? Why are such regimes desirable for Machiavelli? Is Machiavelli’s advocacy of free regimes consistent with his advice to princes? What are some of Machiavelli’s recommendations to the aspiring prince? Are these recommendations consistent with good government? Would a dictator like Hitler or Stalin earn Machiavelli's praise? Why or why not?

6. The State of Nature Why is the state of nature a state of war in Hobbes? Why is morality impossible in it? Is a sovereign authority the only possible solution to Hobbes’ state of nature? Given his assumptions about human nature, is his solution plausible?

7. The State of Nature What are Rousseau's objections to Hobbes' description of the state of nature? What are the roots of conflict and war, for Rousseau?

8. Democracy and Intervention What does Mill mean by saying that some people are "civilized" and others are not? What is the implication of this distinction for international relations? Why does Mill think that imperial government can sometimes help another country? Under what conditions is this claim true, for Mill? Critically evaluate his arguments for benevolent imperialism.

9. Perpetual Peace What does Kant mean by a "federation" of states? Why is a "federation" of states, and not a world state, required for world peace? Why does Kant think a world state is undesirable? Why does Kant think that perpetual peace is possible even if men are not naturally good? What are Hegel's criticisms of Kant's proposal for a perpetual peace? Does Hegel believe that war is always negative? Or does he think that war can be positive? Why? Compare and contrast Hegel and Marx's view of history. Where does history lead, according to Hegel? Where does it lead according to Marx? What are the mechanisms of history?