Editing Classical republicanism (section)

====''Républicanisme''====
[[File:Jean-Jacques Rousseau (painted portrait).jpg|thumb|Portrait of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]]]]

Republicanism, especially that of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau|Rousseau]], played a central role in the [[French Revolution]] and foreshadowed modern republicanism. The revolutionaries, after overthrowing the French monarchy in the 1790s, began by setting up a republic; Napoleon converted it into an Empire with a new aristocracy. In the 1830s Belgium adopted some of the innovations of the progressive political philosophers of the Enlightenment.

''Républicanisme'' is a French version of modern republicanism. It is a form of [[social contract]], deduced from [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]]'s idea of a [[general will]]. Each [[citizen]] is engaged in a direct relationship with the [[State (polity)|state]], removing the need for [[identity politics]] based on local, religious, or racial identification.

''Républicanisme'', in theory, makes anti-discrimination laws unnecessary, though some critics may argue that in republics also, [[Color blindness (race)|colour-blind law]]s serve to perpetuate discrimination.