Pol. Philosophy·Course
Political Philosophy
Social contract, justice, democracy, populism and global order
Part of the Humanities track — finish it for a verifiable diploma →
§ 01 — Orientation
New here?
What you'll be able to do, who this is for, how long it takes, and where to begin.
By the end, you will be able to
- 01Trace the foundations of political authority.
- 02Argue about justice with the canonical thinkers.
- 03Understand what democracy demands and risks.
- 04Think clearly about the global order.
- 05Judge a political claim by its premises.
Who this is for
How long it takes
- Quick orientationSkim the opening module and the cheatsheet to get the shape of it.~2 h
- Full read-throughRead every article once, in order.~2 h
- Mastery pathRead, take the quizzes, and space out your reviews.~2 weeks
- APA
Stoa. (2026). Political Philosophy [Online course]. Stoa. https://stoa.school/course/political-philosophy
- MLA
Stoa. “Political Philosophy.” Stoa, 2026, https://stoa.school/course/political-philosophy.
- Chicago
Stoa. “Political Philosophy.” Stoa. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://stoa.school/course/political-philosophy.
§ 02 — Curriculum
8 modules.
Each module is a small unit. Most read in sequence — but a determined reader can begin anywhere.
- M IFoundations of Political PhilosophyJustice, power, legitimacy, and social contract theories of the state3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIContemporary Challenges: Democracy, Populism, Global OrderCrisis of liberal democracy, populism, and international justice3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIIFreedom, Power, and RightsConcepts of freedom, the nature of power, human rights and their justification3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IVPolitical Challenges of the 21st CenturyPopulism, technocracy, climate politics, and the future of democracy3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VNationalism, Liberalism, and 19th-Century ImperialismPolitical ideologies of the age of revolutions and state-building3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VITotalitarianism, Democracy, and Their CriticsArendt, Popper, Schmitt: political philosophy of the 20th century3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIPostcolonialism, Identity, and RecognitionFanon, Said, Taylor: politics of identity and recognition3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIIDigital Politics and Global GovernanceDemocracy in the digital age and the international order3 articles
18 minBegin →
§ 03 — Learning outcomes
4 outcomes.
Demonstrate understanding of key concepts such as legitimacy, sovereignty, and rights
Analyze theories of justice and their application to political institutions
Evaluate different models of democracy and their contemporary crises
Analyze international relations from the perspective of political philosophy
§ 04 — Practices