ABSTRACT

The concept and purpose of civil society have been explored in various political theories, with early ideas captured in Hobbes's social contract. The social contract theory pertains to the state and aims to provide a philosophical foundation for the emergence, existence, and justification of civil society. In Hobbesian thought, the state is viewed as a result of a pact, covenant, or agreement, while civil society precedes it. Civil society provides a framework for reconciling government authority and the rights of the governed, rooted in the social and political nature of humans. This enables the state and government to be based on mutual consent and fundamental equality. The legitimacy of government is shown to originate from the consent of the people acting together. Consequently, the paper suggests that civil society should be governed based on shared values. In conclusion, it asserts that despite its flaws, Hobbes's social contract theory continues to serve as a framework for an authentic civil society