In this foundational treatise, Jean-Jacques Rousseau inquires into the legitimate foundations of political authority and civil society, famously declaring that man is born free yet everywhere found in chains. He argues that physical force creates no true right and that legitimate political order must rest on fundamental conventions rather than subjugation. The core problem he addresses is finding a form of association that defends the person and property of each associate with the whole common force while allowing every individual to obey only themselves and remain as free as before. This paradox is resolved through the social compact, wherein each citizen alienates their rights entirely to the collective body, thereby receiving in return an equal moral liberty and membership in the sovereign public.
Rousseau asserts that sovereignty, as the exercise of the general will, is indivisible and inalienable, meaning the people can never truly be represented by elected deputies without losing their freedom. He proceeds to analyze various forms of government—democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy—evaluating their suitability according to population size, territory, and climate. The text further explores the mechanisms required to maintain the state, including the roles of the legislator, the tribunate, and the censorship, while warning against the inevitable degeneration and eventual death of the body politic. Ultimately, Rousseau contends that true civil equality and active civic participation are essential to prevent the usurpation of power by rulers and to ensure the enduring prosperity of the republic.
