Rousseauian General Will Theory

A Rousseauian General Will Theory is a political sovereignty theory that locates legitimate authority in the collective will of citizens pursuing common good.

• AKA: General Will Theory, Volonté Générale Theory, Rousseau's Sovereignty Theory, Collective Will Theory.
• Context:
  • It can typically distinguish General Will from will of all.
  • It can typically require Civic Virtue for identifying common interests.
  • It can typically mandate Direct Democracy in small republics.
  • It can often reject Representative Government as sovereignty alienation.
  • It can often oppose Partial Associations that fragment public unity.
  • It can often demand Moral Freedom through self-legislation.
  • It can range from being a Democratic Rousseauian General Will Theory to being a Totalitarian Rousseauian General Will Theory, depending on its interpretation.
  • It can range from being a Procedural Rousseauian General Will Theory to being a Substantive Rousseauian General Will Theory, depending on its will determination.
  • It can range from being a Participatory Rousseauian General Will Theory to being a Vanguardist Rousseauian General Will Theory, depending on its citizen role.
  • It can range from being a Communitarian Rousseauian General Will Theory to being an Individualist Rousseauian General Will Theory, depending on its rights balance.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Historical General Will Applications, such as:
    • French Revolutionary Ideology (1789) invoking popular sovereignty.
    • Jacobin Political Theory claiming general will embodiment.
    • Swiss Cantonal Democracy practicing citizen assemblys.
  • Core General Will Concepts, such as:
    • Sovereignty Indivisibility Principle preventing power division.
    • Forced to be Free Paradox reconciling liberty and law.
    • Civil Religion Concept supporting civic unity.
  • Modern General Will Interpretations, such as:
    • Deliberative Democracy Theory seeking rational consensus.
    • Communitarian Political Philosophy emphasizing shared values.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Liberal Individualism Theory, which prioritizes individual rights.
  • Pluralist Democracy Theory, which accepts competing interests.
  • Libertarian Political Theory, which rejects collective authority.
• See: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Social Contract Model, Popular Sovereignty Theory, Direct Democracy, Civic Virtue Theory, Small Republic Ideal, Political Philosophy, French Revolution, Collective Decision Theory.

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