Rousseau favored direct democracy over representation

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential 18th-century philosopher, believed true democracy requires citizens to make laws directly, not through representatives. In his 1762 work, 'The Social Contract,' he argued that the people's will cannot be legitimately transferred, as representation inevitably leads to corruption. This radical idea, inspired by ancient city-states and his native Geneva, challenged existing monarchies and parliamentary systems. Rousseau's vision significantly influenced the French Revolution and continues to inspire modern tools like citizen referendums, though scaling direct democracy to vast nations remains a complex debate.