Research subject Political Philosophy

Political philosophy explores a wide range of topics relating to the organisation of our collective and social institutions. This includes the study of different political systems, such as democracy, communism, republicanism, liberalism, libertarianism, etc. and related questions about the authority and legitimacy of governments and other state institutions.

Political philosophy examines the fundamental notions of justice and freedom, the coercive rights of states over their citizens, taxation, property and economic rights, rights of resistance against the state and the use of force for political ends, and related questions about the authority and legitimacy of governments and other state institutions, such as the judiciary and branches of law enforcement. It is also concerned with migration and refuge rights, multiculturalism, climate justice, political representation and voting rights, the marginalisation of oppressed groups, labour rights, racial injustice, historical injustice (such as colonialism) and discrimination. Although traditionally concerned with aspects of what we might call ‘public life’, feminist writers (and others) argue that many aspects of political philosophy are also relevant to the private sphere.