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Book 4, Chapter 8
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Social Contract, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Human Freedom and Society
Sovereignty, Citizenship, and Direct Democracy
Government and the Separation of Powers
National Longevity and Moral Virtue
Summary
Analysis
Having explained “the true principles of political right” that can lead to the formation to a legitimate state, Rousseau declares that his next topic should be “foreign relations.” But this is too broad and complex for Rousseau, so he will not write about it here.
The Social Contract ends casually and abruptly, with Rousseau summarizing his project and reiterating that his purpose has been to explain what theoretically would make a state legitimate, rather than analyze any existing nation.
Themes
