How did Rousseau define the general will?

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The Code of Hammurabi diorite stela, with carved figures at the top showing Hammurabi seated with cuneiform inscriptions below. — Political philosophy Diorite stela inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, 18th century bce.

In political philosophy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau defined the general will as the collective will of the people acting in their capacity as citizens, specifically aimed at the common good rather than individual or group interests.1

Unlike abstract or universal ideals, Rousseau’s general will is a concrete political concept. He argued that when citizens vote, they should look past their personal passions and follow their conscience to determine what is just for the republic as a whole. Because the general will represents the citizens' own higher interests, Rousseau famously suggested in The Social Contract that individuals who refuse to obey laws founded on this will are being "forced to be free," as they are being held to the standards they set for themselves as members of the political community.1

Rousseau maintained that legitimate government must be subordinate to this popular sovereignty, serving as a safeguard against despotism and ensuring that laws remain expressions of the people's collective interest.1