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Full Idea
There is no such thing as one monolithic 'people' (every society has its diversity), nor is there anything that could be described as a 'national gut feeling'.
Gist of Idea
There are no united monolothic 'peoples', and no 'national gut feelings'
Source
David van Reybrouck (Against Elections [2013], 2 'populism')
Book Ref
Reybrouck,David van: 'Against Elections', ed/tr. Waters,Liz [Bodley Head 2016], p.18
A Reaction
Rousseau yearned for a republic no bigger than Geneva. I don't see why we should give up on the general will in huge modern societies. It is likely, though, to be an anodyne lowest common denominator. No bad thing, perhaps.