What role did the general will play in Rousseau’s political theory?

In Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political theory, the general will is a foundational concept representing a collectively held will that aims at the common good. It serves as the mechanism to reconcile individual freedom with political authority: because legitimate laws are founded on the general will of the citizens, an individual who obeys the law is, in effect, obeying themselves as a member of the political community.12

Rousseau distinguished this from the contradictory wills of individuals or specific groups. To participate in the general will, citizens must set aside personal interests and reflect on their sense of justice in the "silence of the passions". By doing so, the public assembly does not debate but rather discloses the general will, which Rousseau argued is intrinsically right.1

This concept also establishes a standard for legitimate government, which must remain subordinate to popular sovereignty. While critics have historically debated the implications of Rousseau’s assertion that individuals may be "forced to be free," the concept remains a cornerstone of modern republican thought.12