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Tocqueville. The Theorist as Prophet. Alexis de Tocqueville, 1805-1859. Democracy in America Richard D. Heffner, editor Signet Classic. Importance of Tocqueville. chance to look at sacred cows disinterested observer liberty v equality. The Man. 1805 born an aristocrat
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Tocqueville The Theorist as Prophet
Democracyin America • Richard D. Heffner, editor • Signet Classic
Importance of Tocqueville • chance to look at sacred cows • disinterested observer • liberty v equality
The Man • 1805 born an aristocrat • 1827 magistrate • 1831 visit to U.S. • 1848 member, Constituent Assembly • 1849 vice-president, Legislative Assembly • 1851 Foreign Minister
Andrew Jackson • 1829-1837
DemocracyinAmerica 1835, 1840 • the outsider • visit to the future • the laboratory of democracy • first impressions • competition • change
Consequences of Democracy • atomism • mediocrity • conformity • soft despotism • loss of political
Tocqueville’s Resolutions • stress liberty • promote excellence • foster public virtue
The New Order Evaluated • A Contrast: the Old Order • diverse, complex • the French case • The New Order • need for politics • conformity • need for balance
Liberty Enshrined • liberty = free choice • equality not liberty • warning
Tyranny of the Majority • concerns • saving grace: middle class • Surrogates for Aristocracy • religion • legal system
Participation • Local government • Associations
New World / New Science • New approach • New order • New political culture • Culture = sum total of knowledge, attitudes,habitual behavioral patterns
Democratic Culture • builds democratic institutions • politics follows, is shaped by, culture • the great change
The New Science • the science of association • surrogates for the old order • political • religious • social • interdependent individualism • civic culture