Alexis De Tocqueville: The Dangers Of Democracy

According to Alexis De Tocqueville, there are several dangers to democracy that Americans have found a solution to. The main dangers are an imbalance in equality vs. liberty and the rise of radical individualism. The American solution to the first problem is to seek equality in political rights, while a solution to the latter can be found in free associations. This allows one to become less dependent on the government or oneself and rely on others instead. American democracy did what no one else could and found solutions to many of the problems that can arise in a democracy. Here I will explain some of the dangers of equality and individualism along with American solutions to these problems. One of these dangers is the contention between liberty

However, equality is quick and stable, so it is easy to preserve. For this reason, it is said that in France, “passion for equality is every day growing” (219). Yet this is dangerous to democracy, for if equality is not found in liberty, then it is easy to run the risk of it becoming radical. For like De Tocqueville states “if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery” (223). While equality is usually what is sought out first since it is the most natural, it is important to keep a balance between it and freedom or one will rise above the other and become a danger to society. Democracy also poses the threat of individualism, which is the idea of one becoming too self-absorbed. In an aristocracy “everyman is [bound] to several of his fellow-citizens” (224). This is not true for democracy, because one tends to defend his own rights rather than that of his family or neighbor. When one is no longer concerned with one’s neighbor, he starts self-isolating and becomes lonely. Thus, especially in the past few decades, we have seen a rise in loneliness. Additionally, one loses interest in both the past and the

As stated before, one of the many dangers to democracy is balancing liberty with equality. The American solution to this is to give citizens’ rights. While most people want equality, liberty is more beneficial. Even though it takes longer to see “political liberties bestow exalted pleasures” (221). Therefore, one should seek freedom through rights because it has greater benefits. However, if this freedom is truly balanced then, one must seek equality in the Liberty. The American people still have ardent passions for equality; they just “call for equality in freedom” (223). This balance of seeking one from the other is the solution that American democracy found to prevent radical equality. Finally, there is the danger of individualism and reliance on the government. The solution that De Tocqueville poses is the formation of free associations. Not only do these institutions combat loneliness by gathering people together, but it also rallies them around a common interest. Free associations “unites private to general interests” (227). This means that there is less loneliness because people are joined by a common