What does the term "social contract" refer to in political theory?

The term "social contract" in political theory refers to an implicit agreement among individuals to form a society and create a government that ensures social order and protects individual rights. This concept suggests that individuals consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of a governing body in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights.

Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau have explored variations of this theory, emphasizing different aspects like the legitimacy of power, the role of the individual in society, and the balance between freedom and security. The crux of the social contract theory lies in understanding that members of society agree collectively on the rules and principles that govern them, which lays the foundational justification for political authority.

Other options either misinterpret the concept or apply it in contexts that do not align with the essential tenets of social contract theory. For instance, the idea of economic cooperation or treaties between states pertains more to agreements and relations between entities rather than the foundational philosophical concepts governing society. A formal document ratifying a constitution deals with the legal acknowledgment of government structure but does not capture the implicit, philosophical essence of an agreement among individuals to form a society.