The 'social contract,' in the only sense in which it is not completely mythical, is a contract among conquerors, which loses its raison d'etre if they are deprived of the benefits of conquest.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He argues that the social contract is essentially an agreement among conquerors, losing relevance when conquest benefits disappear.
- In plain terms
- Social contracts depend on the benefits of conquest and fade without them.
- What can you take from it?
- Question the legitimacy of political agreements rooted in domination.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What sustains a social contract today?
- Can a contract exist without coercive foundations?
Another view
Modern states often derive legitimacy from sources other than conquest.
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