The Social Contract · Chapter
That All Forms of Government Do Not Suit All Countries explained
Rousseau argues that liberty is not suited to all climates, following Montesquieu's principle.
What happens
Rousseau argues that liberty is not suited to all climates, following Montesquieu's principle. He explains that the viability of a government depends on the surplus of labor over needs, which varies by climate and fertility. Democracy suits small, poor states; aristocracy suits middling states; monarchy suits wealthy nations. Despotism is natural to hot countries, barbarism to cold, and good polity to temperate regions. He also discusses how population density affects the ease of revolt and tyranny.
Themes in this chapter
Liberty and Equality
Liberty is presented as not universally attainable, depending on climate and economic surplus.
Sovereignty and Government
Different forms of government (democracy, aristocracy, monarchy) are evaluated based on their suitability to different nations.
Critique of Despotism and Slavery
Despotism is linked to hot climates and sparse populations, and is contrasted with free states.
Characters to notice
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Author presenting the argument that forms of government must suit the climate and economic conditions of a country.
- Montesquieu
His principle that liberty is not a fruit of all climates is cited and expanded upon.
- Chardin
Quoted on the sobriety of Persians and the differences in diet between Europeans and Asians.
Key passages
“Liberty, not being a fruit of all climates, is not within the reach of all peoples.”
Freedom is not possible in every climate; some peoples are naturally unsuited for it.
Opening statement establishing the chapter's central thesis.
“The more the distance between people and government increases, the more burdensome tribute becomes: thus, in a democracy, the people bears the least charge; in an aristocracy, a greater charge; and, in monarchy, the weight becomes heaviest.”
The farther government is from the people, the heavier the tax burden, with democracy being lightest and monarchy heaviest.
Rousseau links government form to economic efficiency.
“Monarchy therefore suits only wealthy nations; aristocracy, States of middling size and wealth; and democracy, States that are small and poor.”
Monarchy is best for rich countries, aristocracy for medium ones, and democracy for small, poor ones.
Direct assignment of government types to economic conditions.
“The advantage of tyrannical government therefore lies in acting at great distances. ... The least populous countries are thus the fittest for tyranny: fierce animals reign only in deserts.”
Tyranny works best over large, sparsely populated areas, where the people cannot easily gather to resist.
Conclusion linking population density to the feasibility of despotism.