Abstract This paper compares the America of today to the America of Alexis DeTocqueville, claiming that were DeTocqueville alive today to see what America has become he would snicker at what he wrote about America being a society that gave equal opportunities to all.
From the Paper "Alexis De Tocqueville seemed smitten with the freedom and the lack of hereditary privilege he found in America in the first half of the nineteenth Century. What he saw then was a nation not bound by hereditary estates or titles, but supposedly gave equal opportunities to all. His revolution created Napoleon. The American Revolution produced the Constitution, Washington Jefferson and Madison."
Tags: liberals, left-wingers, democracy, vote, elections, intellect, unequal, distribution
Abstract This book analyzes the book "Democracy in America", which was written in the middle of the nineteenth century by French traveler, Alec deTocqueville. The author of this paper maintains that deTocqueville's portrayal of his vision of the character and future of American society was practically prophetic. The paper reviews within a modern context deTocquevill's references to the entrenched materialism and commercialism; class conflict; separate spheres for men and women; and of a confusion between freedom and equality. The paper illustrates how most of deTocqueville's observations and analyses of the United States remain relevant today, more than a hundred years later.
From the Paper "For instance, in Chapter One of the second book of Democracy in America, the author states, "...equality, pushed to its furthest extent, may be confounded with freedom, yet there is good reason for distinguishing the one from the other. The taste which men have for liberty and that which they feel for equality are, in fact, two different things," (para. 5). The difference between liberty and equality, which is rarely vocalized as bluntly as it is in de Tocqueville's work, has been one of the underlying themes running throughout the course of American history. Whether class conflict, racial division, or gender role differentiation, American society has fulfilled de Tocqueville's image: "for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible; they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery." Similarly, de Tocqueville summed up the nature of American materialism: "The heart of man is of a larger mold; it can at once comprise a taste for the possessions of earth and the love of those of heaven; at times it may seem to cling devotedly to the one, but it will never be long without thinking of the other," (Book 2, Ch. 15). Regarding most matters of American society and ideology such as gender and race relations; class conflict; political climate; and material culture, de Tocqueville hits the nail on the head; only a few of De Tocqueville's observations were off the mark."
This paper discusses ?Democracy in America? by Alexis deTocqueville, which focuses on America's socio-political landscape during the early 19th century.
Abstract This paper explains that the most essential discussion in deTocqueville's ?Democracy in America? establishes that the country's culture determines the "practical philosophy" of American politics, as well as the establishment of a more egalitarian than libertarian society. The author points out that the social conditions of governing American politics are based on gender, religion, and even the dichotomy and differences that deTocqueville raises between the Americans and Europeans. The paper relates that deTocqueville's thesis posits that people or Americans govern the country, and this socio-political order has both advantages and disadvantages that result in the development of a government that is called ?the tyranny of the majority.?
From the Paper "Social institutions are also an important force that forms the core of American politics. With stronger power and influence in politics, social institutions and groups in America have the authority to determine whose power will become dominant in the country. By studying the role that the mass media, particularly the press institution, plays in enforcing the authority of the majority in American politics, Tocqueville argues that in a country where mass media is a powerful institution affecting public opinion, ?Means must then be found to converse every day without seeing one another, and to take steps in common without having met. Thus hardly any democratic association can do without newspapers.? These, in general, are the forces that determine the nature of American politics as determined by Tocqueville in "Democracy in America"."
Tags: majority, egalitarian, dichotomy, europe, media
Abstract This paper discusses the idea of democracy as given by Alexis deTocqueville who wrote a comprehensive book on the democratic system of America. He was of the view that though American democratic system was working successfully, it still had some weaknesses, which should be addressed effectively.
Abstract Discusses Tocqueville's observations about public administration in the United States. Argues that Richard Stillman II incorrectly concludes that Tocqueville is condemning American administration. The paper asserts that Tocqueville understood that the weaknesses in American administration were "by design" in order to prevent tyranny and over-centralization.
From the Paper "Often times, it seems that the best critic is an outside observer? one who can offer plain insight without prideful bias. This is demonstrated by the fact that the best-known commentary on American politics and administration was written not by an American, but by a 26-year-old Frenchman by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville. As an outsider, he had a much clearer perspective than those around him and was able to more accurately report on both the strengths and weaknesses of the American system."
Abstract This paper provide a scholarly evaluation of Tocqueville's arguments about democratic culture in the United States, the perceptions of Walt Whitman in this regard, and their legacy for modern American culture. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Originally visiting America to study prison reform, Alexis De Tocqueville quickly became fascinated by the lifestyle of the Americans. His Democracy in America addressed America's love for equality over freedom; materialism; religious mores; and the American educational system. His first-hand, insightful descriptions of the country in 1831-1832 from New York to New Orleans provide some contrasting portraits of the average American from a foreigner's perspective. For instance, intrigued by the everyday life of Americans De Tocqueville described the inside of one home in Tennessee in his diary as being one characterized by slothfulness and inattentiveness to the quality of living conditions, factors that were cited above and beyond the poverty noted and for which the latter could not completely account."
Abstract This paper reviews the writings of Alexis deTocqueville and how they might illuminate the nation-building effort now taking place in Iraq or the need to address the provision of disaster relief in the region of the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina. The paper continues by pointing out that these are two issues deTocqueville knew nothing about but which do reflect certain elements in his analysis of American society.
From the Paper "One of the earliest analyses of American culture was that of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French visitor who traveled the country in 1835 and 1840 and commented on what he saw and experienced. What he writes raises issues of the meaning of democracy, the society that can support democracy, and some of the ways each may change over time. While De Tocqueville knew nothing of the nation-building effort now taking place in Iraq or the need to address the provision of disaster relief in the region of the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina, his ideas about how democracy works are cogent and applicable to the way the United States government is responding to each of these issues. The social condition of equality is the moving force and principle of democratic regimes, and for de Tocqueville this is the fundamental fact from which all others must be derived."
Abstract This paper examines how Alexis deTocqueville describes through his literature, the philosophical strain of American religious and political thought in the mid 19th century as a philosophy of pantheism, pluralism, materialism and above all, of the tyranny of the American democratic majority.
From the Paper "Religion in America, Tocqueville suggested, and faith in America was not necessarily freely chosen, but determined upon by popular consensus as an alternative to the hierarchical dogma that predominated in European forms of faith. Material goods in the here and now rather than faith in the beyond were the American measure of a person's glory and socially isolates human beings, because this is what the common people responded to. "It must be acknowledged that equality, which brings great benefits into the world, nevertheless suggests to men (as will be shown hereafter) some very dangerous propensities. It tends to isolate them from one another, to concentrate every man's attention upon himself; and it lays open the soul to an inordinate love of material gratification.""
Tags: pantheism, pluralism, materialism, majority, europe
A comparison of John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty", Alexis deTocqueville's "Democracy in America", and Carl Schmitt's "The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy".
Abstract This paper discusses the problems of democracy as cited in three major works on the subject: John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty", Alexis deTocqueville's "Democracy in America", and Carl Schmitt's "The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy". The paper elaborates upon the views of Mill and deTocqueville, who both believed that the tyranny of the majority was particularly worrisome in democracies, compared to other political systems. The paper also outlines the major features of Carl Schmitt's critiques of parliamentary democracy, in which he contrasts between how parliamentary government is designed to function and how it actually functions. The paper further discusses Schmitt's argument that democratic institutions function through corrupt political deal-making and that rational political debate and election results have little impact on government decision-making. The paper concludes that Mill and deTocqueville realized that the solutions for these problems actually lay within the democratic system.
From the Paper "Schmitt was also critical of parliamentary systems because he believed that the nature of democracy itself is based upon meaningless abstractions such as equality and liberty. To him, these high-sounding concepts were little more than a sham, for most people care very little about equal rights and liberty and most political leaders care even less. Leaders deliver grand speeches in parliaments and legislatures about democracy, but behind the scenes, they act in their own self-interest. And in society, the average citizen is just as hypocritical, for they resent any action by the government or other citizens that is detrimental to their self-interest, while paying lip service to democracy and equal rights for all."
Abstract This paper discusses how Alexis deTocqueville in "Democracy in America" and Michael J. Sandel in "Democracy's Discontent" both address issues of democracy, freedom, the role of government, and the good citizen. It looks at how their viewpoints differ because they write at different times of history. DeTocqueville writes at a time when democracy is a novel ideal. Aristocracy has been the main form of government, and this, therefore, plays a major role in his writing. Sandel, on the other hand, deals with contemporary issues such as the global community and the implications of new technology and diminishing boundaries among people.
From the Paper "De Tocqueville stresses the importance of civil equality in the achievement of true democracy. This equality implies the lack of divisions and barriers between social classes. This is the equality that he sees in American culture as opposed to European culture that still subscribes to the aristocratic means of government. The democratic ideal implies more freedom than would be possible with an aristocratic government: "Let us suppose that all the people take a part in the government, and that each one of them has an equal right to take a part in it. As no one is different from his fellows, none can exercise a tyrannical power; men will be perfectly free because they are all entirely equal"?(De Tocqueville, Book II, Chapter I)."
Abstract This paper discusses how Alexis deTocqueville's seminal work on democracy, ?Democracy in America?, has shaped America's self-vision and global theory on democracy since it was released in 1835. It looks at how the first volume of Tocqueville's work, then, dealt extensively with the history and formation of American democracy, especially concerning itself with the details of jurisdictions, applications, and details of the American system of governance. It also examines how, when five years later he revisited his earlier topic, he focused less on the nature of the body of government and more on the nature of the governed and the peculiarities of environment, social structure, and personal mores that allowed democracy to function as it did. It shows how there is a relatively short space between these two works and how most of their central theses and themes are overlapping and indistinguishable. The primary differences between the two are the subject matter (institutions versus populations), the greater degree to which the second develops a thesis rather than merely describing a phenomena, the treatment of aristocracy and equality within America, and the degree to which Tocqueville appears optimistic about the prospects of the nation.
From the Paper "In both works Tocqueville is largely complementary towards the system. Especially in he first volume, he seems to uphold this model as one of the finest to be followed by the nations of Europe, though he seems skeptical that it could be entirely reproduced in a different environment and social climate. In the second, however, while still praising the system he has a tendency to criticize the citizens of America and their nature. While he sees a number of important moral and religious positives within American culture that are encouraged by their system of government (especially regarding the treatment of women, marriage, and the family), he also seems to embrace an idea of the American people as less intelligent, less prone to works of artistic genius and worth, and generally more bombastic and insufferable than their European counterparts."
Abstract This paper examines how the book, "Democracy in America" by Alexis deTocqueville, considers the phenomenon of democracy as it manifests itself in the United States. It looks at how, apart from legislative authority, democracy carries with it certain dangers that, if not properly dealt with, will result in despotism by the majority.
Outline
The Love for Equality
Individualism
Materialism
The Preservation of Liberty in the Face of Democracy Association and Press
Religion
DeTocqueville's Relevance
From the Paper "The main premise for this argument include the sovereignty of the people and the power of public opinion. De Tocqueville sensibly argues that equality precludes the importance of any one person's rule over another, since nobody can claim to be more important than any other. However, to establish order in society, a certain rulership has to be established. The only way to achieve this is by the rulership of the majority, which then can lead to despotism. This happens by means of tyranny of the majority. Because everybody is seen as equal, no opinion is more important than any other. Thus, the opinion of the majority is in effect adhered to, in order to satisfy the majority. A further implication of equality is that the minority, being equal to the majority, has not right to disagree with the majority, as this implies that such an opinion is more important than that of the majority. This is the basis of despotism; that the minority is helpless to resist the general opinion, and thus liberty is undermined."
Abstract This paper discusses the book "Democracy in America" written by 19th century Frenchman, Alexis deTocqueville. 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."
Abstract Alexis deTocqueville was surprised by and feared the shortage of guarantees against tyranny in the United States, which he discussed in his work, "Democracy in America". He feared that tyranny could be brought about by centralization of administration coupled with an atomizing individualism. He also had misgivings about the possibility of the emergence of a 'tyranny of the majority' in the United States. This paper examines those fears from Tocqueville's perspective and determines whether or not those fears have been realized in the time since "Democracy in America" was written.
From the Paper "Tocqueville realizes that tendency toward centralization of administration is natural for bureaucratic institutions striving for efficiency, but such tendency builds a love of the status quo in administrators that can put a halt to progress, and ignore important societal problems with which the bureaucracy was not designed to deal. "Centralization easily imposes an aspect of regularity on day-to-day business... and keeps society in that state of administrative somnolence which administrators are in the habit of calling good order and public tranquility... it excels at preventing, not doing." He explains also that as a centralization of administration increases the power and reach of government increases while citizens grow lethargic, "it is accustomed to command and they to obey," and that as the trend continues, "that tendency is intensified, the capacity of [the government] and the incapacity of [the people] becoming striking.""
