Have you discussed the political philosophies of some of the major players in the War of the Five kings? Tywin, Robert, Baelish, Varys, Dany, and the majority of the political characters seem to fit loosely into the liberal, realist, or constructivist theories of international relations. Some of the best political debate comes from Baelish and Varys; what to these conflicting viewpoints say about the meaning of sovereignty and diplomacy in Westeros and Essos?

Well, IR is my brother’s area of expertise, not mine. 

But yes, I cover the political philosophies of the major players on my blog. Tywin, Eddard, Jon Arryn, and Tyrion I covered in an essay series on the Handship.

Overall, Tywin is pretty Machiavellian and quite conservative, politically. 

Robert is somewhat of an absentee king, although he’s pretty good at warfare.

Baelish is, I suppose you could describe him as an anti-Hobbesian. Total individualism, the social contract doesn’t exist, chaos is good. It’s almost anarchism, but without the idea that people are by nature good. 

Varys is, as I’ve said in a number of Eddard chapter recaps, an extreme utilitarian and a believer in enlightened despotism. 

Besides being an abolitionist, I don’t know how well-developed Dany’s political philosophy is. She’s certainly a monarchist, she believes in noblesse oblige, but I don’t know if goes beyond that.