English thinkers and democracy

Democratic ideas associated with English thinkers have had a profound influence on the development of modern democracy. Key figures and concepts include:

1. **John Locke**: He emphasized the social contract and the idea that government should protect individuals' natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

2. **Thomas Hobbes**: While not a proponent of democracy, his work, such as "Leviathan," laid the groundwork for the idea of a government based on the consent of the governed.

3. **John Stuart Mill**: Known for his advocacy of individual liberty and freedom of speech, his ideas contributed to the liberal democratic tradition.

4. **Montesquieu**: A French philosopher, Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the Laws" influenced the idea of separation of powers, a fundamental concept in modern democracies.

These English and Enlightenment thinkers helped shape democratic principles like individual rights, limited government, the rule of law, and the separation of powers, which are foundational to many democratic systems today.