This course deals with the (i) edification of the main concepts belonging to the tradition of modern political philosophy (legitimacy, sovereignity, authority, freedom, state, people etc.) and with their (ii) main theoretical interpretive elaborations. With respect to the second aspect, the course revolves around contractualism starting from pre-liberal contractualism (Hobbes), through classical contractualism (Locke, Rousseau, Kant) and on to its post-illuminist critics (Burke, Hegel, Nietzsche). The course is directed to those interested in grasping the philosophical assumptions subjacent to modern and contemporary political discourse and events.