This is a normative political theory course that draws on political economy. It is topic-based rather than based on any particular writers. The rough division of the topics is as follows:1. What capitalism is and how it works. Private property, markets, competition, public goods, growth i.e. very basic political economy. 2. Consumption. Whether what capitalism delivers is worth it. E.g. Consumerism versus other values, such as leisure and economic democracy 3. Work. Alienation, exploitation, democracy and cooperatives, unemployment, labour regulation, Unconditional Basic Income and employment subsidies 4. Capitalism and humanity’s social side. Human nature, community. 5. Capitalism and normative political theory: justice, equality, freedom.