Approaching Alexis de Tocqueville's Democratic Poetry: The French strenuous perusing of Democracy in America

Résumé du document

"Mr. de Tocqueville, let us have a chat", King Louis-Philippe would say, "I want you to tell me a bit about America". This conversation between the French with Alexis de Tocqueville about America and Democracy is more than 170 years old but still seems to whet the interest of French scholars, philosophers, intellectuals and citizens. In the past decades, Tocqueville has even acquired the status of the historical figure, archetype and is lauded as the "outstanding pioneer of Democratic Liberalism in France", widely known and respected. In the present day, the French celebrate anniversaries of his birth, publications and death, quote him in government meetings, and professors of Political Science, Philosophy, Political Theory or Sociology in all schools frequently refer to his work in their classes.

Extraits

[...] The necessity of categorisation and classification in distinct disciplines suddenly appeared as the conditio sine qua non for knowledge to be legitimate and credible. This was the second element that was clearly conducive to the evanescence of Tocqueville's Democracy In America from the French intellectual spheres from 1880 to 1950. In fact, to what discipline does Alexis de Tocqueville pertain? Even Raymon Aron, who proclaimed himself a “late offspring” of Tocqueville perceived him as an incomplete, imprecise, and “mundane” sociologist[17]. His political science evidently lacks rigour and there were many historians at that time who were far more erudite than he ever was. [...]

[...] Professors of political thought and history of ideas barely explain Tocqueville's viewpoint on the role of religion in democratic societies. Yet, whilst perusing Democracy In America one can hardly fail to grasp the key point that the author tries to make about religion. The ineffable erudition and intelligence of the scholars I am mentioning in this essay forbids me to believe that it is a matter of misinterpretation. I rather think that French students of Tocqueville do not give his reflections on religion the emphasis that they deserve, because they are in complete contradiction with the viewpoint widely shared in the French Political Culture since the Enlightenment and more precisely, since the Revolution, that the development of freedom and equality in a democratic regime are coupled with gradual weakening of beliefs”[38]. [...]

[...] Scherer, Edmond. “Etudes sur la Democratie”, Le Temps, (30 septembre 1883). Tocqueville, Alexis (de). Democracy in America. New York: Harper Tocqueville, Alexis (de). Nouvelle Correspondance entierement inedite, Paris Todd, Emmanuel. La Nouvelle France, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, coll. L'Histoire immédiate Schapiro, “Alexis de Tocqueville, Pioneer of Democratic Liberalism in France” Aron, Main currents in sociological thought Mansfield, “Tocqueville's new political science” Tocqueville, Democracy in America Drescher, “Tocqueville's two Democracies” Melonio, Introduction a la premiere democratie Tocqueville, Democracy in America, xiv. [...]

[...] Tocqueville, Democracy In America Ibid Tocqueville, Democracy In America Ibid Ibid Ibid Idem. Ibid Todd, La Nouvelle France In its Article the Declaration states that the is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation”. Tocqueville, Democracy in America Ibid Ibid Ibid Ibid Mansfield, op. cit. Tocqueville, Democracy in America With the notable exception of Pierre Manent in his brilliant essay entitled “Democratic Man, Aristocratic Man, and Man Simply”. Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 486. [...]

[...] By holding man under God both as its image and as its subject, Religion restricts a democratic materialistic limitless independence that would bring man to place all of his hopes in the State. Tocqueville therefore sees Religion useful to politics insofar as it opposes blunt rationalist materialism, develops long-term undertaking and faith in the future, protects pride and promotes politics[42]. This is the message that Tocqueville addresses to the French: look forward to a republican form of government as a permanent and tranquil state and as the required aim to which ideas and mores are constantly steering modern societies? Such men sincerely wish to prepare mankind for liberty. [...]