General Will

The concept of the "General Will" (volonté générale) played a significant role in the ideological framework of the French Revolution. Originated by the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his influential work "The Social Contract" (1762), the General Will referred to the collective will of the populace aimed at the common good or public interest. Rousseau posited that legitimate political authority is derived from the General Will, rather than from traditional sources like aristocracy or monarchy.

During the French Revolution, revolutionaries often invoked the notion of the General Will to justify revolutionary actions and policies. The radical revolutionaries, particularly the Jacobins, were staunch proponents of Rousseau's philosophy. The idea underpinned their belief that governance should reflect the collective interests of the people, and not merely the interests of a select few. It was used to support the establishment of a more democratic system, contrasting sharply with the ancien régime (old regime), where power was held by the monarchy and the nobility.

The National Assembly (later renamed the National Constituent Assembly) embraced the General Will when drafting the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. This declaration emphasized that "law is the expression of the General Will," making it a foundational principle for new French laws and governance structures. This principle asserted that laws should originate from the collective will of citizens, who were considered equal and sovereign within the state.

However, the interpretation of the General Will became highly contested during the revolution. Critics argued that the term, when used by radical factions like the Jacobins, often masked authoritarian tendencies. Under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre, the Committee of Public Safety claimed to act in accordance with the General Will, using it to justify the Reign of Terror (1793-1794). This period saw the execution of thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution, highlighting the potential for the General Will to be manipulated for political ends.

Despite the controversies, the idea of the General Will profoundly influenced the revolutionary discourse and subsequent political thought. It aimed to create a society where the interests of the community superseded individual interests, promoting the notion of citizens as active participants in shaping the state. Concepts derived from the General Will continue to underpin modern democratic ideologies, reflecting its enduring legacy from the period of the French Revolution.

• The concept of the General Will (volonté générale) was famously articulated by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his work 'The Social Contract' (1762), influencing revolutionary thought.
• Rousseau's idea posited that the General Will represents the collective desires of the populace, transcending individual interests, which became a rallying cry for revolutionaries seeking popular sovereignty.
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (26 August 1789) embodies the principles of the General Will, asserting that the law is the expression of the General Will and should apply equally to all citizens.
• Robespierre, one of the leading figures of the revolution, fervently believed in the General Will, famously declaring that 'the general will is always right,' which he used to justify measures during the Reign of Terror.
• Unlike the simplistic notion of majority rule, the General Will emphasizes moral authority and common good; thus, it could potentially justify overriding majority decisions if deemed unaligned with the collective interest.
• The idea of the General Will has sparked numerous debates and interpretations in both political theory and practical governance, influencing various democratic movements throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.