This is my proposal and the tutor feedback.
I have chosen the political thinker Thomas Hobbes about democracy for three reasons. Firstly, because his political theory continues to be relevant to contemporary political debates on democracy and the role of the state. How he places such an importance of state power for ensuring security and order. My interest in this stems from reading about the Spanish government dealing with Catalonia. Secondly, Hobbes is one of the most influential political thinkers in history and political thought. Many contemporary democratic thinkers have engaged with Hobbes’s ideas such as the social contract and individual rights. Lastly, Hobbes’s theory was and remain very controversial. In relation to its compatibility with democratic values. This careful examination and thinking could help us gain a better understanding of how state power and democratic principles are related.
The key areas I will be researching are Hobbes political theory including his views on the state, sovereignty and human nature. The concept of democracy and its underlying principles such as popular sovereignty, individual rights and representation. The friction between the need for order and security and the preservation of individual rights and freedoms. The debate on whether a strong centralised state is necessary for ensuring order and security or whether more decentralised state would be suited. The role of law and order and institutions in balancing competing interests and values such as liberty and security.
Word count:233
Good choice – Hobbes is always relevant.
You have set out clearly your strategy in relation to Hobbes – consider areas of state security where public safety is the key issue, and also the question of a centralised state, or how much you centralise a state as opposed to alternatives. In this context consider decentralisation and its likely consequences.
To what extent does Hobbes emphasis on the state’s role for ensuring order and security conflict with democratic values?
Introduction
-Hobbes political theory and his emphasis on the role of the state in ensuring security and order
-Present main argument Hobbes emphasis on the state power and how it may conflict with democratic values
-Overview of main points in the essay
Main body
Hobbes Political theory
-Brief history of Hobbes political thought
-overview of Hobbes theory on state ensuring order and security
-Examination of Hobbes view on the legitimacy of political authority
-Explanation of Hobbes social contract theory
Democratic Values
-Definition of democratic values
-Overview of the core values of democracy
-Comparison of Hobbes views to democratic values
-Conflicts between Hobbes and Democracy
-Analysis of how Hobbes emphasis on the state’s role in ensuring security conflicts with democratic values.
– Examination of specific examples such as limitations on freedom of speech, assembly, right to dissent and the protection of minority rights.
-Discussion on the friction between individual rights and the common good in Hobbes political theory.
Theoretical perspectives
-Examination of theoretical perspectives to resolving the conflict between Hobbes view and democratic values.
-Evaluation of the strengths and weakness of each approach
-Comparison of the theoretical perspectives to Hobbes political theory
Case studies
-Study of the United States and its democratic system (Constitutional protection and balance of power.
-United Kingdom and its parliamentary democracy (The role of the monarch and the House of Lords)
Conclusion
-Summary of the main arguments in the essay
-reflections on the relevance of Hobbes political theory to contemporary democratic societies
Word count: 264
Again well laid out here outlining the case for Hobbes under a number of different headings and that bring to the fore his impact and continuing relevance today.
I mentioned decentralisation as opposed to Hobbes’s centralsiing tendencies. You might consider examining this aspect if time and space considerations permit.
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