At the outset of Alexis de Tocqueville’s work‚ Democracy in America‚ the theorist asserts‚ regarding the spread of equality‚ that‚ “The gradual development of equality of conditions is therefore a providential fact‚ and it has the principal characteristics of one: it is universal‚ it is enduring‚ each day it escapes human power; all events‚ like all men‚ serve its developments‚” (Democracy‚ Book‚ 6). Tocqueville uses the term ‘equality of conditions’ to describe socially formal equal footing among
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In “Democracy in America‚” Alexis de Tocqueville argues that the biggest danger of democracy is the feeling of‚ what he coins‚ “Individualism.” Tocqueville states when introducing the concept of individualism that it is “of democratic origin” and may spread with the “same ratio as the equality of conditions” (Volume 2; Part 2; Ch 2.). His primary reason for this is that in an equal society men are no longer attached to other men. He compares it to an aristocracy‚ where every man is a link in a
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According to “Democracy in America‚” by Alexis de Tocqueville‚ democracy separates the generations to come with the present generation. This is because the bind that connects generations in aristocracy breaks in a democracy. For example‚ Tocqueville states that democracy hides a person’s descendents‚ while separating his contemporaries. He explains that in an aristocracy‚ a person always sees a man above himself and a man below him. Hence‚ why Tocqueville believes that aristocracy is better than
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In ‘Democracy in America’‚ Alexis De Tocqueville analyses democracy‚ seen as egalitarian social conditions. While he acknowledges its merits in guaranteeing the economic and political stability of nations‚ he also warns that democratic systems have the potential to bring about various social handicaps‚ namely ‘individualism’ and ‘democratic nepotism’ - unless intermediate institutions are introduced. Marx‚ on the hand‚ dismisses the idea that politics are at the heart of modern society’s issues
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Disadvantages of Democracy Making the wrong choice In a democratic country‚ it is the common man who has the supreme right to choose their legislature and their prevailing authorities. As per a general study‚ not all the people are completely conscious of the political circumstances in their nation. The common masses may not be acquainted of the political matters in their society. This may lead to common man taking an erroneous selection during election. Authorities May Lose focus As the government
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In Alexis de Tocqueville’s work‚ Democracy In America‚ Tocqueville spoke on the dangers of censorship in a democracy. "First you bring writers before juries; but the juries acquit‚ and what had been the opinion of only an isolated man becomes that of the country ... You hand the authors over to permanent magistrates‚ but judges
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The primary disadvantages of democracy are a general lack of accountability‚ the prospect of personal interest becoming the predominant factor in decisions‚ and negative financial implications. A democracy lays the power to make decisions in the hands of the majority. This‚ ironically‚ places an emphasis on both individual and group power. A group controls the decision-making process‚ but an influential individual can control the group. The issue with democracy‚ in spite of the power of the people
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Alexis de Tocqueville: Weaknesses of Democracy Most of the researches consider publications of Alexis de Tocqueville as longsighted and even prophetic. That actualizes the issues which Tocqueville investigates in his publications and books. For instance‚ Tocqueville in his “Democracy in America” foresees the future confrontation of Russia and United States. The reason for that is two different perception of life – for Americans the motive is a freedom‚ for Russians - service. Another significant
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which gave us these new political and economic ideas which formed under liberal political party and conservative party of the time. We understand these parties or ideas as classical liberalism or classical conservatism. In “Democracy in America” P-376‚ Alexis De Tocqueville argues that “I am therefore led to conclude that the right of association is almost as inalienable as the right of personal liberty”‚ which means the right of citizen to associate with any political party or organization can’t
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intro Democracy is viewed to be an ideal form of political system and government. Several countries these days have adopted this. Democracy signifies supreme power that lies in the body of the citizens electing leaders that will represent them. This can also be defined as political system and orientation including individuals standing by the government or by the individuals they have elected to represent them. Democracy entails numerous advantages but this is also tied to some disadvantages. Advantages
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