Planned obsolescence of the social contract?

As citizens of old and new democracies express growing dissatisfaction with states and their governments, one thing is clear: the old social contracts, in the sense of the Lumières, seem to be failing. What’s more, citizens are increasingly demanding that companies be both socially and ecologically responsible. As a result, the corporate sector is taking on more and more of the role previously played by the state, indicating a certain failure on the part of the latter.

Nevertheless, the social contract remains a fundamental element of our societal organization, playing a crucial role in institutional and social equilibrium. Its potential obsolescence threatens the stability of our countries. Has the social contract really become obsolete? Do the concepts of justice and security need to be completely rethought to cope with contemporary crises? Should the corporate world step into the space left by the partial failure of the state to meet its commitments to the social contract?