What did Rousseau mean by the general will?

In political philosophy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau defined the general will as a collectively held will that aims at the common good or the shared interest of the political community.1

Unlike the contradictory, particular wills of individuals or private groups, the general will represents the citizens' collective interest as members of the republic. Rousseau argued that legitimate laws must be founded on this general will; therefore, when citizens obey the law, they are essentially obeying themselves as part of the sovereign body.1

To access the general will, Rousseau believed individuals should set aside personal passions and reflect on their sense of justice in the silence of their conscience. While critics have sometimes labeled his ideas as authoritarian, scholars generally agree that Rousseau intended to preserve civil liberty and autonomy. For Rousseau, the general will serves as a safeguard against despotism, ensuring that government remains legitimate only when it is strictly subordinated to the sovereignty of the people.1