On the Shores of Democracy. Tocqueville between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean

During the Twentieth century, Tocqueville has been presented as the «oracle» of democracy, shown by him in De la Démocratie en Amérique as a system shaped up by the constant pressure of the égalité's principle. In recent years, however, a new image of this author is presented by many scholars,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Niccolò Cuppini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Bologna 2015-06-01
Series:Scienza & Politica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/5280
Description
Summary:During the Twentieth century, Tocqueville has been presented as the «oracle» of democracy, shown by him in De la Démocratie en Amérique as a system shaped up by the constant pressure of the égalité's principle. In recent years, however, a new image of this author is presented by many scholars, following above all the analysis of his writings on the Algerian colonization. Commonly interpreted as marginal, this section of Tocqueville's theoretical work is instead discussed here as a tool to redefine his pivotal concepts of equality and democracy. The article is developed discarding an interpretation of Algerian production as, alternatively, Tocqueville's exception or his truth. It is otherwise presented here within the twine of his complex theoretical fabric.
ISSN:1590-4946
1825-9618