Social contract as an authority of sovereignty: Doctrines from XII until XIV century

• Main Authors: Avramović Dragutin S., Jovanov Ilija D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Law 2018-01-01
• Series: Zbornik Radova: Pravni Fakultet u Novom Sadu
• Subjects: social contract; limited government; church; the sovereignty of the monarch; popular sovereignty
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0550-2179/2018/0550-21791803047A.pdf

Idea of rule based upon (social) contract is present in theory since ancient period until modern times. In this text the authors tend to reveal theory of social contract in a part of Middle Ages, pointing to certain thinkers who contributed to the theory of social contract in their works. They examine some basic elements of developed social contract theory in 18th century, particularly the issue of certain rights of the people to elect potentate (sovereign) and establish limited government. In the period when church has obtained particular role in social life, as well as in performing secular power, the attention was paid to relationship between spiritual and secular heads of the two competing social organizations. It is stressed that during the elapse of time they have started to look alike in terms of ruling technique. The authors conclude that in that period the word was rather about growth of social contract theory than about completed theory of ruling upon a social contract.