The Social Contract · Chapter
X: The Abuse of Government and Its Tendency to Degenerate explained
Rousseau discusses the inherent defect in the body politic that leads to the degeneration of government, either through contraction (from democracy to aristocracy to royalty) or dissolution (when the prince usurps sovereign power or magistr
What happens
Rousseau discusses the inherent defect in the body politic that leads to the degeneration of government, either through contraction (from democracy to aristocracy to royalty) or dissolution (when the prince usurps sovereign power or magistrates usurp collective authority). He distinguishes between tyranny (usurpation of royal authority) and despotism (setting oneself above the laws), and notes that anarchy is the common name for the abuse of government.
Themes in this chapter
Decline and Corruption of the State
Rousseau describes the inevitable degeneration of government due to the conflict between particular will and general will, leading to contraction or dissolution.
Critique of Despotism and Slavery
Rousseau defines despotism as setting oneself above the laws and distinguishes it from tyranny, emphasizing the breaking of the social compact.
Sovereignty and Government
The chapter explores how government usurps sovereignty, leading to the dissolution of the State and the return of individuals to natural liberty.
Characters to notice
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Author of the chapter, analyzing the natural tendency of government to degenerate and the distinction between tyranny and despotism.
Key passages
“As the particular will acts constantly in opposition to the general will, the government continually exerts itself against the Sovereignty.”
The private interests of rulers are always at odds with the common good, so the government is always pushing against the authority of the Sovereign.
Rousseau sets up the fundamental tension that drives governmental decay.
“This is the unavoidable and inherent defect which, from the very birth of the body politic, tends ceaselessly to destroy it, as age and death end by destroying the human body.”
Just as every living thing eventually dies, every political body has a built-in flaw that will eventually lead to its destruction.
Rousseau compares the State to a mortal organism, emphasizing the inevitability of decline.
“So that the moment the government usurps the Sovereignty, the social compact is broken, and all private citizens recover by right their natural liberty, and are forced, but not bound, to obey.”
When the government takes over the Sovereign's power, the social contract is nullified, and citizens regain their natural freedom, though they may still be compelled to obey.
Rousseau highlights the legal and moral consequences of governmental usurpation.
“In vulgar usage, a tyrant is a king who governs violently and without regard for justice and law. In the exact sense, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself the royal authority without having a right to it.”
Commonly, a tyrant means a cruel ruler, but strictly speaking, a tyrant is someone who seizes royal power illegitimately.
Rousseau clarifies the precise meaning of tyranny versus its popular usage.