The Enlightenment had a profound impact on the governance of Western societies by introducing ideas that prioritized reason, individual rights, and democratic principles. Philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu advocated for the social contract and the separation of powers, influencing the development of modern democratic institutions. Their emphasis on rational thought and skepticism towards authority challenged traditional monarchies and encouraged the idea that governments should uphold the will of the people. Enlightenment thinkers inspired revolutions, including the American and French revolutions, fundamentally reshaping the social contract and laying the groundwork for contemporary democratic governance and human rights frameworks.