Zasada pomocniczości a jej wrogowie – doktryna umowy społecznej jako podstawa centralizacji władzy państwowej od XIV w. do rewolucji francuskiej

Even though the principle of subsidiarity was developed only in the 19th century, it had been practically applied since much earlier. Medieval reality was especially characterized by its application. This article aims to trace the history of the development of doctrines based on the idea of social contract between individuals. Such doctrines were conceived in the 14th century by William of Ockham and Marsilius of Padua and later elaborated by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Main focus has been applied to those elements of these doctrines, which caused significant centralization of state power in the modern period, which was practically realized with political changes caused by the English “Glorious Revolution” or especially the French Revolution. The idea of the state as a unity, created as a result of the contract between free and equal individuals who have ceded whole power over themselves to this unity, clearly undermines the independence of smaller communities, thereby effectively limiting the possibility of real application of the principle of subsidiarity as a principle of the political system.