The Social Contract · Chapter
IX: Conclusion explained
Rousseau concludes by noting that he has established the true principles of political right and provided a foundation for the State, but he declines to explore external relations such as the law of nations, commerce, war, conquest, and trea
What happens
Rousseau concludes by noting that he has established the true principles of political right and provided a foundation for the State, but he declines to explore external relations such as the law of nations, commerce, war, conquest, and treaties, as these topics are too vast for his current work.
Themes in this chapter
Sovereignty and Government
Rousseau references the true principles of political right and the basis of the State, which are central to sovereignty and government.
Key passages
“Now that I have laid down the true principles of political right, and tried to give the State a basis of its own to rest on, I ought next to strengthen it by its external relations, which would include the law of nations, commerce, the right of war and conquest, public right, leagues, negotiations, treaties, etc.”
Having established the fundamental principles of political legitimacy and provided a solid foundation for the State, I should now address its external affairs, such as international law, trade, war and conquest, public law, alliances, diplomacy, and treaties.
Rousseau outlines the unfinished agenda of his political theory, focusing on external relations.
“But all this forms a new subject that is far too vast for my narrow scope. I ought throughout to have kept to a more limited sphere.”
However, this topic is too extensive for my limited purpose; I should have confined myself to a narrower field.
Rousseau acknowledges the limitations of his work and chooses not to expand into international relations.