"No modern philosopher has been more influential than Rousseau, or more misunderstood. There is scarcely a modern intellectual or political movement whose seeds cannot be seen, rightly or wrongly, in some aspect of Rousseau’s thought — the French Revolution, communism, fascism, contemporary communitarianism, as well as the politics of compassion and political leaders who take on the role of public comforters."

Read more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/01/02/jean-jacques-rousseau-not-a-nut-not-a-leftist-and-not-an-irresponsible-intellectual/?utm_term=.35899cd82130