Readings

1. Robb Willer, ‘Groups Reward Individual Sacrifice: The Status Solution to the Collective Action Problem’, American Sociological Review 74,
3. Delia Baldassarri, ‘Collective Action’, Peter Bearmanand Peter Hedström (eds), Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology, 2011. -
4. Rousseau, Jean Jacques. 1762. The Social Contract. -
5. John Locke. 1689. Second Treatise of Government.- Locke's work is essential for understanding the foundations of liberalism, particularly the ideas of natural rights and the social contract.
6. Thomas Hobbes. 1651. Leviathan. - Although Hobbes' work is not strictly liberal, it provides contrasting ideas about the state of nature and the role of government, making it valuable for a comprehensive discussion.
7. John Stuart Mill. 1859. On Liberty. - Mill's essay is a classic in liberal political philosophy, emphasizing individual liberty and the limits of state authority.

Essay Questions

1. Pick one of the following questions for your essay.
2. What criteria determine the legitimacy of a government, and when, if ever, is it morally justifiable for individuals or groups to engage in acts of resistance, protest, or rebellion against a government?
3. Without good laws we will lack good citizens; without good citizens we will fail to produce good laws.’ Critically assess how far, if at all, this poses a problem for Rousseau’s account in The Social Contract. (2023 Exam A14359X1)
4. ‘The primary reason why hateful speech should not be legally restricted is that we cannot trust the state to define ‘hate’. Discuss. (2023 Exam A14359X1)
5. What role does rebellion play in Locke’s theory of government? (2022 Exam A14359W1)