"The Social Contract" was written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a philosopher whose work significantly influenced modern political thought. Published in 1762, the book outlines Rousseau's ideas about the relationship between individuals and the state, emphasizing that legitimate political authority rests on a social contract agreed upon by the governed. Rousseau argued that individuals surrender some freedoms to gain civil liberties, leading to a collective will that represents the people's interests. His concepts of popular sovereignty and civic freedom have greatly impacted democratic theories and the development of political philosophy in the Enlightenment and beyond.