PSCI 371
Doing Political Theory: Critical, Conceptual, and Normative Inquiry Fall 2025
Division II

Political theory does some of its hardest work in the critical space between facts and norms. In this course, you will learn how political theorists raise and address questions concerning political processes and institutional arrangements, assessing them in light of values such as justice, freedom, and equality. How do we evaluate the possibilities and limits of institutional arrangements that are intended to embody these or other values? What do we do when the values themselves are vigorously contested? How can political theory help to clarify conceptual differences or identify common ground for agreement in the context of democratic politics? Most importantly, what scholarly tools can we use to go beyond the terms of an existing debate to suggest alternative normative principles or articulate new visions that might guide policy-making, public deliberation, or collective action outside the bounds of institutions? By looking closely at examples from ancient, modern, and contemporary political theory, this course will equip you with skills to craft your own questions and write an extended essay that addresses a topic of your own choosing. Analytical skills, interpretive techniques, and conceptual work will be emphasized.