Single Idea 20567

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / a. Sovereignty]

Full Idea

Rousseau's idea of popular sovereignty is a much more radical idea of self-government, because he insists that the consent of the people has to have a real means of expression.

Gist of Idea

Rousseau insists that popular sovereignty needs a means of expressing consent

Source

report of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762]) by Johanna Oksala - Political Philosophy: all that matters Ch.5

Book Reference

Oksala,Johanna: 'Political Philosophy' [Hodder and Stoughton 2013], p.62


A Reaction

Presumably Hobbes's 'contract' is forgotten in the mists of time, and ceases to be of any interest to a ruler (such as Charles I, who thought God must have appointed him). Perhaps Britain needs an annual ceremony reaffirming the monarch.

Related Idea

Idea 20566 Hobbes says the people voluntarily give up their sovereignty, in a contract with a ruler [Hobbes, by Oksala]