Name: Democracy in America
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville
ISBN: 9780192504968

Democracy in America

Alexis de Tocqueville

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Author Description

Classic analysis of America's unique political character, quoted heavily by politicians and perennially popping up on history professors' reading lists. The book's enduring appeal lies in the eloquent, prophetic voice of Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), a French aristocrat who visited the United States in 1831. A thoughtful young man in a still-young country, he succeeded in penning this penetrating study of America's people, culture, history, geography, politics, legal system, and economy. Tocqueville asserts, I confess that in America I saw more than America; I sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress.

Menrva's Summary

THE THESIS

What are the fundamental implications of democratic equality for the social and political structure of a modern nation? Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat and political thinker, utilizes his 1831 observations of the United States to examine the trajectory of democratic governance. He argues that the transition toward equality is an inevitable historical force, and he seeks to identify both the potential benefits and the inherent risks that accompany this shift in societal organization.

THE SCOPE MAP

What You Will Find

Analysis of the American legal and political system
Observations on the influence of religion and civil society
Examination of the relationship between individual liberty and social equality

Scope Limits

Does not provide a comprehensive history of the United States post-1840
Does not account for the long-term evolution of American industrialization

THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE

Scholars and political theorists consistently identify this work as a foundational text for understanding the mechanics of democratic systems. Readers frequently note the dense, analytical nature of the prose, which remains a standard reference in academic curricula regarding Western political thought.

Page Count:
628

Publication Date:
2000-01-01

Publisher:
Oxford Univ Pr (T)

ISBN-10:
0192504967

ISBN-13:
9780192504968

Philosophy

Politics

History

Sociology

American Studies