Which Enlightenment philosopher wrote “The Social Contract,” a text that had a major influence on the development of the concepts of democracy and sovereignty?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in "The Social Contract," published in 1762, explores the idea that sovereignty resides in the general will of the people, a revolutionary concept that strongly influenced modern political thought. He argued that governments are legitimate only if they serve the common good, as expressed by the will of the people. His ideas were crucial for the development of democratic principles and inspired many revolutionary struggles for freedom and equality, including the French Revolution.