Political Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Political Theory - Essay Example These leaders assume their respective positions in government for a specified period of time after which they return to their normal work never to serve the people again. During their tenure in the government, leaders in a republic should serve the interests of the people who elected them at the expense of their personal interests. In any state, republicanism emphasizes on several significant concepts that include dedication to serving the people, advantages of universal political participation, the negative effects of corruption, strict adherence to the rule of law, and the necessity to separate powers. From these concepts, the most significant value that stands apart in republicanism is political liberty. In this case, political liberty transcends the lack of government interference in private affairs to incorporate self-reliance and self-discipline as key determinants of societal wellbeing. Political liberty keeps off the government and its leadership from the private lives of its citizens. The government’s interference with the private lives of its citizens only happens when individual activities threaten the wellbeing of the entire republic. As such, the role of the government in a republic is to protect the entire republic (Duff, 2011). ... Particularly, the essay explores the extent to which Jon Locke’s social contract theory is compatible with the republican ideologies of Niccolo Machiavelli. Understanding Social Contract Social contract is a convention between humans that aims to discard the state of nature. Under this state of nature, individuals coexist peacefully without the interference by the government and its written rules and regulations. Principles of justice based on individual ability to reason efficiently guide the people’s way of life. These principles include the right to liberty and the right to live. They apply to all individuals regardless of race or ethnicity. Through reasoning, most individuals seek to follow these principles; nonetheless, the lack of written regulations results to challenges especially in the manner at which individuals solve the arising interpersonal conflicts (Maloy, 2009). In times of such conflicts, the state of nature becomes a social contract as individuals see k assistance from the state. To solve these conflicts, the state sets up rules and enforces them prompting the people to pay the state for its role in conflict resolution. In this process, the government sets up legislatures, law enforcement units, and non-partisan judicial systems to protect the right of every individual. This theory explains the processes of forming states and governments. Particularly, this theory focuses on the voluntary provision of information to the government by the people. This is because the government serves the people and it requires accurate information from the people in the process of serving them. Jon Locke’s Social Contract Theory and its Compatibility with the Republican Ideologies of Niccolo Machiavelli In this