Correct option is C
The correct answer is (c) Rousseau. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a prominent political philosopher of the Enlightenment era, is often credited with the statement that England is democratic only during the elections. He argued that true democracy is not simply about voting in elections but about ongoing participation by the people in governance. According to Rousseau, the period of elections is the only time when citizens exercise their sovereignty, after which their power is transferred to elected representatives, leaving them effectively powerless between elections. This critique emphasizes the limited nature of representative democracy compared to more direct forms of democratic participation.
Information Booster:
1. Jean-Jacques Rousseau is best known for his work "The Social Contract" where he discusses ideas about popular sovereignty and direct democracy.
2. Rousseau’s critique of representative democracy was that it alienates citizens from political power between elections.
3. Rousseau believed that true democracy requires constant and direct participation from the people, not just during election periods.
4. He argued for general will, where laws and policies should reflect the collective desires of the citizens.
5. Elections in Rousseau’s view should not be the only form of democratic engagement but part of a larger, continuous political process.