"Democracy in America"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the book "Democracy in America" written by 19th century Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville. The paper examines Tocqueville's views on the American political system. The paper explores what Tocqueville said about the isolation of individuals which results due to self-interest, claiming it could be solved by using religion as an instrument for making alliances among the members which would lead them to make a united effort and activity. The paper claims that this, according to Tocqueville is essential for sustaining democratic forms of government.

From the Paper:

"In every era of equality each man looks for his beliefs within his self and in the era of equality men are unconnected of one another, isolated, and frail. (Vol: 2; Section 1: Chapter: 3) In a democratic society, the citizens are extremely defenseless, however the state, that characterize them all and holds them all its clutches, is extremely authoritative. In no other form of administration, citizens are irrelevant as in a democratic country. (Vol: 2; Section 1: Chapter: 12) Alexis de Tocqueville was of the view that increased forms of equality tend to move towards isolation. In case of a democratic nation where all the citizens enjoy equal status, and are observed from a proximal distance from each other, individuals are cocooned within themselves and contend upon evaluating the world from that standpoint."

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