Social Contract and the Governments Legitimacy

Abstract

The social contract doctrine has been one of the most influential theories within Western moral and political theory. The reasons for it being enormously influential are because it addresses the source of sovereign’s legitimacy, conception of freedom of individuals and equality, and the issue of consent. But in a current situation of crisis of democracy, reflected also in the crisis of legitimacy of governments, is the social contract theory still relevant? In the first chapter will be presented the common features but also the differences of the ideas of classical contractarians, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Even though they have the same general idea, they differ in a main point that is the power that each of them gives to the government, which will be explained in this chapter. Through this comparison, we will be able to distinguish between them and understand which idea is more suitable for the society, obviously, if it is suitable at all. Finally, in the last chapter, the relevance of the social contract today is put into question. Is the theory of the social contract still applicable, or it has lost its relevance. What justifies its relevance and application after so many years? And what happens if the government does not comply with its obligations? Can people challenge it, or they must just wait and hope for things to get better?

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s1p392