popular will
What citizens want
Popular will is the collective desire or intention of the people, especially as it bears on political decisions.
Democratic theory holds that governments derive legitimacy from popular will: The referendum reflected the popular will.
The concept is often invoked but difficult to measure precisely, since populations rarely speak with one voice.
- democracyRule by the people
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
- voteFormal choice expression
consent · social contract · masses · citizens · uprising · street protests · revolution · majority · collective · grassroots · mass movement · movement · electorate · legitimacy · mob · protest · ballot · civic duty
- enlightenmentVoltaire, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Montesquieu
- Rousseausocial contract, Emile, Confessions, noble savage, natural state
popular willautocracy
Rule by one
oligarchy · dictatorship · plutocracy · technocracy · military junta
popular willtotalitarianism
State controls everything absolutely
martial law · centralized control · political repression · tyrannical rule
popular willspecial interests
Groups seeking policy influence
vested interests · corporate interests · cronyism · nepotism · kleptocracy
popular, will, populace, population, populate, populated, populating, popularity, popularly