Who is recognized for advocating the separation of powers in government?

Montesquieu is widely recognized for advocating the separation of powers in government. In his influential work "The Spirit of the Laws," Montesquieu argued that political power should not be concentrated in a single authority but instead divided among different branches of government—specifically executive, legislative, and judicial. This framework was designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power and to provide a system of checks and balances, which would protect individual liberties and promote more effective governance. His ideas significantly influenced the development of modern democratic systems, particularly in the drafting of the United States Constitution, where the principle of separation of powers is foundational.

In contrast, Rousseau focused on the concept of the social contract and the general will, without explicitly promoting a division of governmental powers. Locke emphasized natural rights and the role of government in protecting these rights but did not develop the separation of powers as a structured concept. Hobbes, on the other hand, supported a strong, centralized authority to avoid anarchy, which contrasts sharply with the idea of distributing power among different branches.