It is a truism of any discussion of democracy that our notion is heavily indebted to the ancient Greeks, and in particular to the Athenians. The word itself derives from demos and kratos, people and power, and is often translated as the rule of the people – or the rule of the poor, who formed the bulk of the people in ancient times. But this inheritance is more problematic than it seems. The term kratos itself can refer to might or strength, to acts of valour or violence, or to power or dominion. Who counts as the demos is equally fraught with disagreements and inconsistencies. For the ancient Greeks, only free (non-slave) adult males of local birth counted as citizens, whereas we have a much more inclusive notion of citizenship today, with women and some foreign-born citizens eligible for the same privileges and duties. We will deal with both of these concepts – power and the people – in turn, with a keen eye on what this means for the social contract.

The democratic social contract

Social contract theory, as a venerable concept in philosophy, claims its roots in ancient Greece. Socrates, in Plato's dialogue Crito, argues with his friend about the merits of accepting his death sentence, versus the merits of fleeing Athens, as is possible with the use of a few well-placed bribes. Socrates argues for the moral duty to obey the laws of the land, irrespective of the consequences for his own person. Socrates’ argument binds the citizen to his community, and is perceived more as a moral duty than a political obligation. The city of Athens had made Socrates who he was, and he refused to betray it, even if it meant death. This moralism is hardly applicable to a modern polity, nor is it appropriate for the current crisis of the gilets jaunes. What Socrates’ argument does show, however, is that democracy held a force over him beyond that of the power of legal or physical enforcement. Democracies claim a moral force over their citizens that often makes them accept conditions that would otherwise be against their interests.

It is in Genevan philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau's thought that the modern conception of democracy has its clearest expression – after two millennia of dormant torpor. In his Social Contract, Rousseau delineates the limits of democratic power and couches these limits in contractual language.