  We study the dynamics of a classical, two-component plasma in two dimensions,
in the vicinity of the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition where the system
passes from a dielectric low-temperature phase (consisting of bound pairs) to a
conducting phase. We use two ``complementary'' analytical approaches and
compare to simulations. The conventional, ``intuitive'' approach is built on
the KT picture of independently relaxing, bound pairs. A more formal approach,
working with Mori projected dynamic correlation functions, avoids to assume the
pair picture from the start. We discuss successes and failures of both
approaches, and suggest a way to combine the advantages of both.
