Foundation of State Responsibility Based on Nature of State in Rousseau's Thought

Abstract

Since the state responsibility refers to the accountability of the state to individuals, its nature relies more than anything on the nature of the relationship between individuals and the state. Given the Rousseau’s relying upon modern subjectivity, this relationship has entered into a new phase which is different from the former outlooks especially that of Hobbes. Adopting an analytical approach, this article deals with the question, "what does Rousseau's approach to the relationship between individuals and the state imply about the concept of state responsibility?" This essay concludes that due to Rousseau's perspective about the unity of state and individuals, basically there is no duality which holds one responsible against the other and the responsibility of states to individuals is equal to one’s responsibility toward itself.

Keywords

• state responsibility
• nature of state
• subjectivity
• rousseau
• social contract
• hobbes