Can The General Will Be Expressed in U.S. Elections?
Turnout, Voter Restrictions, Factional Power, and Monied Interests in the American Political System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i2.6578Keywords:
Elections, General Will, Philosophy, Rousseau, United States, Politics, GerrymanderingAbstract
This research delves into the nuanced relationship between election outcomes and the concept of the “General Will,” as elucidated by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in The Social Contract. Through a multifaceted analysis, this paper scrutinizes the representation of election results by considering factors like voter turnout and restrictions, factional power dynamics, and the influence of monied interests. The findings reveal that elections, particularly within the electoral landscape of the United States, fail to truly express the will of the people due to gerrymandering, voter restrictions, and the influence of dark money and special interest groups. Drawing on insights from scholarly discourse, the study concludes by proposing potential solutions aimed at fostering greater alignment between election results and the overarching will of the people.
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