Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "The Social Contract" is a cornerstone of political philosophy, proposing that true sovereignty lies not with rulers, but in the general will of the people. Rousseau argues for a society where individuals enter into a collective agreement to create a government that reflects the common good, challenging the foundations of the traditional monarchy. His ideas on liberty, equality, and democracy have inspired revolutionary movements, making this work a seminal text in shaping modern political thought.