Tocqueville, a political scientist WASP at the time of the US elections
October 18, 2024. Alexis de Tocqueville is one of the few French authors recognized by American high school students. His theories on democracy are discussed in history and civics classes starting in middle school. However, in France, his name tends to provoke responses mainly from educated individuals and political scientists, often leading to contradictory and passionate reactions. This is the special status of this young magistrate who left for the United States (1831), admitting to speak poorly English.
Along with his travel companion, Beaumont, he spent ten months in the U.S. and returned to his country with a book titled "Democracy in America," published in 1835, which has since become a foundational text. American scholars were impressed by his accurate depiction of society at that time, often referred to as WASP—White Anglo-Saxon Protestant—the core demographic of America.
Although successive waves of immigration have changed the geographical distribution of origins, Tocqueville's insights remain relevant in the U.S. today.
Map: Tocqueville (par Jean-Louis Benoît) - Aristocrate par l'instinct ...
Cartoon 1 µ Clásicos de Historia: Alexis de Tocqueville, Sobre la democracia en América (clasicoshistoria.blogspot.com)
This book can be seen as a reflective piece. When discussing America, France often lurks in the background, either explicitly or implicitly.
This perspective will guide our approach as we embark on a 6,000-kilometer road trip during a pivotal moment in U.S. history—just over two weeks before a presidential election of unprecedented significance. Meanwhile, France is grappling with its own crisis of representative democracy.
Tocqueville observed that the foundation of America was built on three main pillars.
- - Education is crucial, serving as a catalyst for harmonious civic development guided by religious principles.
- Protestantism posits that everyone has the duty to read the Bible and the right to interpret it individually, independent of hierarchical dictates, while maintaining respect for others.
- - A model of direct democracy is evident in the communities established by the Pilgrim Fathers. Tocqueville observes that France was
structured hierarchically, with authority stemming from the king in Paris, then to the provinces and villages. In contrast, the communities established by the Pilgrim and their heirs were the primary units at the local level, where villagers would come together to discuss and decide on matters such as raising taxes to build a school or hire a teacher Only later did these communities become organized into states and ultimately the Union, layers that are still viewed with some skepticism today
- in a generally positive portrayal, which some may find mythologized according to Pierson, an American historian and expert on Tocqueville, the author nonetheless identifies areas of friction:
- Is Protestantism as tolerant and egalitarian as it is often claimed?
- Is the American aspiration for wealth (“get rich”) compatible with a specific ethical or moral framework in religion?
- Individualism versus community: Each citizen is encouraged to navigate life like a tightrope walker, finding balance. The law serves as the arbiter; it is not dogmatic but relies on a foundational generic text and, significantly, on jurisprudence and past interpretations of the law.
- Was education truly a vehicle for equality and freedom?
Tocqueville reconciles his own biases with a nuanced distinction between equality and equity. As the son of an aristocratic family, he is convinced that the Republic represents the future of France, which at that time exists under a more or less constitutional monarchy, frequently challenged by revolutions and unrest (notably in 1830 and 1848).
Tocqueville and like-minded thinkers argue that France has yet to fully realize the goals of its great Revolution of 1789. He posits that a specific Republic, akin to its American counterpart, is the solution—but not just any republic.
Having witnessed the suffering of his family during the Terror (1793-1794), Tocqueville is wary of tendencies toward anarchy and the instability inherent in France. To manage this "tyranny of the people," he advocates for a Republic guided by wise leaders, notables, and "natural" authorities.
Tocqueville's ideas are invigorating because they address essential questions regarding the nature of democracy, though they are informed by the context of his time.
What remains relevant today?
Imagine Tocqueville in 2024, riding his Harley Davidson, en route to further explorations.
FRENCH VERSION intro road trip - Éditeur - Webador