Email this article 
J. J. Rousseau: the utopia of totalitarian democracy
- Authors: Zhukov V.N.1,2
-
Affiliations:
- Lomonosov Moscow State University
- Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Issue: No 8 (2025)
- Pages: 7-18
- Section: Legal, political, philosophical and religious thought
- URL: https://genescells.com/1026-9452/article/view/689727
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S1026945225080017
- ID: 689727
Cite item
Open Access
Access granted
Abstract
The article examines the model of liberal democracy developed by J.-J. Rousseau. It is noted that Rousseau, by identifying the state and society and emphasizing equality rather than freedom, actually justifies the totalitarian model of power. Human rights and freedom, which are declared the goal of a social contract, actually dissolve into the common will and national sovereignty. It is argued that Western European individualism, having created a market economy and a Rule of Law, at the same time tends to generate totalitarianism. It is concluded that Rousseau is one of those who stood at the origins of the totalitarian model of power.
Full Text
About the authors
Vyacheslav N. Zhukov
Lomonosov Moscow State University; Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Author for correspondence.
Email: pifagor2002@mail.ru
Doctor of Law, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor at the Department of Theory of State and Law and Political Science of the Faculty of Law; Chief Researcher at the Sector of Philosophy of Law, Theory and History of the State and Law, RAS Expert
Russian Federation, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991; 10, Znamenka St., Moscow, 119019References
- Berdyaev N. A. The fate of man in the modern world. Towards understanding the new era. // Berdyaev N. A. Philosophy of the free spirit. M., 1994. Pp. 341–345 (in Russ.).
- Vysheslavtsev B. P. Crisis of industrial culture // Vysheslavtsev B. P. Essays. M., 1995. P. 380 (in Russ.).
- Novgorodtsev P. I. Lectures on the history of Philosophy of Law // Novgorodtsev P. I. Essays. M., 1995. P. 165 (in Russ.).
- Ortega y Gasset H. The uprising of the masses // Ortega y Gasset H. Selected works. M., 1997. P. 43 (in Russ.).
- Rousseau J.-J. On the social contract, or the Principles of political law // Rousseau J.-J. Treatises. M., 1969. Pp. 84, 86, 96, 152, 157, 160, 161, 165, 168, 170, 175, 183, 188, 220, 231, 246 (in Russ.).
- Rousseau J.-J. A discussion on the origin and grounds of inequality between people // Rousseau J.-J. Treatises. M., 1969. Pp. 69, 71–73 (in Russ.).
- Rousseau J.-J. A discussion on the question: “Did the revival of sciences and arts contribute to the purification of morals” // Rousseau J.-J. Treatises. M., 1969. Pp. 19, 26 (in Russ.).
Supplementary files
