Tocqueville's Two Democracies: A Comparison of Complete and Revolutionary Conceptualizations of Equality Open Access

Abstract

Tocqueville argues that the democratic revolution has created different democratic societies each possessing different causes and a host of opinions, sentiments, and instincts despite sharing the same basic regimental architecture. The existence of this dichotomy is one of the primary reasons why Tocqueville insisted on not adopting a single model of democratic institutions and associations because he saw regimes and social states as always having more than one face and nature, "complete" and "revolutionary" with the respective examples of America and France as the primary specimens. But how can one regimental process produce such a variety of resulting models? What exactly is it that Tocqueville attributes to these diametrically striking sociopolitical differences, such that he claims, "democracy exists in Europe but prospers only in the United States? Is there a causational concept or variable that defines and influences the development of such divergences? I argue that Tocqueville saw a democratic social state as compatible with several different types of civil and political character that are ultimately determined by how the idea of equality is understood and implemented in their midst.

Table of Contents

Introduction

I. Equality as the Fundamental Democratic More and Its Two Variations

II. Two Democratic Origins and How History Influences The Perception of Equality

III. The Defining Characteristics and Talents of The Two Equalities
i.Equality in Complete Democracies and Its Dominance in the Private Sphere
ii.Equality in Revolutionary Democracy and Its Dominance in the Public Sphere

IV. Liberty and the Two Democracies
i.Equality in Revolutionary Democracies on the Misunderstanding of Liberty's Purpose
ii.Equality in Complete Democracies on Undervaluing Liberty's Potential
iii.Summation

V. Self-Interest and The Two Democracies
i.Equality in Complete Democracy Creating Dynamic Self-Interest and Anxious Citizens
ii.Equality in Revolutionary Democracy Creating Stable Self-Interest but Destructive
Egotism
iii.Summation

VI. Religion and the Two Democracies
i.Equality in Revolutionary Democracies and Its Influence on Religion as an Institution
ii.Equality in Complete Democracies and Its Influence on Religion as a Habit
iii.Summation

VII. Conclusion

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Political Science
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Political Science, General American Studies
Keyword	Tocqueville Equality Democracy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Owen, Judd, Emory University
Committee Members	Strahan, Randall, Emory University Tamasi, Susan L, Emory University

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