This document provides instructions for a 6-8 page research essay responding to a prompt about justifications for the state. Students are asked to compare the ability of states to provide safety and security compared to other governing entities, like cities, international organizations, or NGOs. They must also discuss the limits and possibilities of state sovereignty in producing safety and security for citizens. The essay should draw on course readings and discussions to assess the moral, practical, and historical justifications for the modern state and factors that could diminish such justification.