SC Connecticut News

What can a French political philosopher from the 18th century teach us about current trends in democracy? Théophile Pénigaud, a postdoctoral associate with the Institution for Social and Policy Studies’ (ISPS) Democratic Innovations program at Yale University, has written a book based on his Ph.D. thesis exploring the work of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Democratic Innovations program aims to identify and test new ideas for improving democratic representation and governance.

In an interview, Pénigaud discussed his book, Rousseau, and how examining early modern political thought can shed light on today’s political polarization and the trend toward involving citizens more directly in decision-making.

When asked what inspired him to focus on Rousseau, Pénigaud explained: “In France, where I’m from, Rousseau is arguably the most famous political philosopher. He is widely credited with inspiring the French Revolution and is confidently one of its most explicit intellectual sources.”

Pénigaud's interest in Rousseau was sparked by two events: the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) by French voters in 2005 and the global financial crisis in 2008. Both events highlighted issues within modern democracy that he felt could be better understood through Rousseau’s philosophy.

Discussing the TCE referendum, Pénigaud noted: “The fact that we were invited as citizens to have a say was great progress... But it felt like we were helpless.” He pointed out that while direct democracy was employed, meaningful deliberation was missing. This lack of trust between elites and citizens created suspicion and ultimately led to inconsistent outcomes.

The financial crisis further emphasized feelings of political alienation among citizens. According to Pénigaud: “Seemingly appropriate measures were enacted technocratically... It still felt as if citizens were collateral damage in an economic system they didn’t understand.”

Rousseau’s relevance today lies in his emphasis on popular sovereignty exercised through physical assembly. Pénigaud sees this reflected in contemporary citizens’ assemblies—deliberative bodies chosen by lottery intended to enhance public confidence in democracy.

“Rousseau rehabilitated the people’s ability to exercise sovereignty,” said Pénigaud. He argued that these assemblies embody deliberation aligned with Rousseau’s ideals by promoting egalitarianism, consensus-orientation, and reliance on shared information.

Reflecting on practical applications of these principles, such as France's Citizens’ Convention for Climate (2019-20), Pénigaud observed: “Citizen participants felt they were working on behalf of the entire population... They demonstrated a Rousseauian mindset.”

Despite some proposals not being enacted by Parliament, participants believed they contributed significantly to democratic debate—a process Pénigaud believes Rousseau would commend.

Pénigaud concluded that studying philosophers like Rousseau remains valuable: “His political philosophy has its own value... To find these treasures you need to excavate contextually.” Applying these principles today involves scrutinizing institutions and striving for democratic improvement.

Finally, he praised Yale's ISPS Democratic Innovations program for supporting his research endeavors: "Yale is a fantastic place for intellectual exchanges... ISPS allows everyone to work at their best."