An Extract from the book titled :
"IF ZAMBIA SHALL BE SAVED: A POSTMORTEM TO THE REDEMPTION OF THE NATION, SPELLING THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF THE SALVATION OF ZAMBIA
The Key Principles of the Social Contract that every citizen and leader needs to know as put forward by various fathers of philosophy such as John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and many others are capable of unlocking a universal understanding of political leadership and government. According to Locke, a Social Contract is an agreement where individuals consent to form a government that will protect their natural rights including liberties, and property. These Social Contracts are invested in a figure called a Sovereign. If a sovereign then who is an elected leader violates this contract by becoming tyrannical, the citizens break the agreement thereby justifying rebellion or overthrow. This position is supported by Jean Bodin where he states that it is treasonable for a trusted sovereign to break his promises. Rousseau also at supporting this position emphasizes that the social contract is based on the general will of the people. That when a rulers act against this will, they betray the trust placed in them by the society (citizens). This breach can be seen as a form of treason against the civil society they are meant to serve.
According to Locke, citizens have the right to resist a despotic government even when it is a constitutionally elected one. In support of this, theoretical writings of Jonathan Mayhew expressed acceptance of believing that resisting tyranny was a Christian duty and that the people were the proper judges of civil authority. Going by Hobbes', Locke's and Bodin's postulates, what we call sovereignty is first vested in the people or the citizens who have the power to exercise it. (Bodin) However, this power and authority is delegated to a single a person who we call the sovereign can be regarded as the elected leader. As a person who is vested with this delegated authority, he holds the position in trust. Loyalty is the key component in this delegated duty. Loyalty is known and measured by how this figure (the sovereign/elected leader) exercise the power he/she has been given. The sovereign who is the elected leader is expected to rule by rationality (or reason if you like). In other words, he/she must rule according to 'natural law' which embody the dictates of justice, the sway of reason rather than appetite.
When the sovereign begins to hold absolute power by overriding the laws and contravening the laws of God under which all great leaders and monarchies of the world ought to obey, he/she begins to commit treason and rebellion.
Political Authority and obligations are based on individual self-interests of members of the society who are understood to be equal to one another with no single individual invested with the conservative position unlike the monarch by which as the sovereign must be accorded absolute authority of society. According to Bodin, it is treasonable for a trusted sovereign (figure/elected leader) to break his/her promises. Natural Equity requires that agreement and promises be kept.(Bodin)
Now, a tyrannical leader is one who violates the laws, both the law of the land and the laws of God, oppresses his/her subjects, and treats private property as his own.
I think the essence of upholding the social agreement as postulated by the social contract theory is to have an orderly society and, an orderly legitimate authority. Hence, society settle for or (appoints/elects) the just man and invest in such a one with their collective sovereign authority. In other words, men give up their sovereign authority and become subject to the collective sovereign invested in their elected leader.
According to Socrates' view, a just man is one who among other things recognize his obligations to the state by obeying laws. Justice includes obedience to the state and laws that sustain it. The state is morally and politically most fundamental entity and as such deserves the highest allegiance and deepest respect from all.
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
The social contract theory is that view that person's moral and political obligations are dependent upon. It is the agreement among citizens to form the civil society in which they will live. Which ever school of thought one may choose regarding the subject of the social contract, the destination or objective is how the people may be held accountable to the common agreement or disposition. Without this social contract, men exist in the original 'state of nature' where there are no rules, laws, order etc. The 'state of nature' is a state where everyone is at war with one another, unless reason intervenes through setting up an agreement that gives birth to a civil society. The state of nature in its exclusive sense is brutal and a war zone.
On the other hand, the law of nature provides escape from the state of nature where civil society is created and where the first and important command is that each man be willing to pursue peace when others are willing to do the same or retain the right to continue to pursue war when others do not pursue peace. (Hobbes) It is from this danger that is perceived around human nature that brings about the submission of all, collectively to a political authority. (Hobbes) To understand the importance of the social contract, we need to understand 'human nature ' (human behavior) of his existence in a disorderly state of nature and understand his/her of existing in civil society regulated with laws, rules and ordered. Human beings are complicated organic machines that respond to stimuli of the world mechanically and in accordance with universal laws of human nature. (Hobbes) Humans are self-interested and often pursue what they perceive to be in their own individually considered best interest.
Others may argue that the state of nature is a state of liberty where persons are free to pursue their own interests and plans, and free from interference and restrictions that can be imposed upon persons, however, human nature becomes a danger in that free-flow state of nature is constantly at war.
The social contract is the most fundamental source of all that is good and that which every citizen depends upon to live well. (Hobbes) By forming a social contract, men escape the original 'state of nature' where there are no rules, laws, and order, and they create a civil society.
REFERENCES
Zengani Zimba
Author of "IF ZAMBIA IS TO BE A PANORAMA OF A CHRISTIAN NATION, THE WHOLE COUNSEL". 1st & 2nd Editions
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