more from Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Single Idea 19783

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / e. Peace]

Full Idea

The conqueror and conquered peoples always remain in a state of war with one another, unless the nation, returned to full liberty, were to choose voluntarily its conqueror as leader.

Gist of Idea

A state of war remains after a conquest, if the losers don't accept the winners

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Discourse on the Origin of Inequality [1754], Part II)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.71


A Reaction

Tricky if part of the conquered nation accepts the conqueror, and the other part doesn't, as in France in 1940. In a permanent conquest the state of war seems to fade away, as in England in 1066.