In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville embarked on a journey to the United States, officially to study the American prison system. What he discovered went far beyond: his observations became the foundation of one of the most influential works ever written on modern political society—Democracy in America.

Through this landmark book, Tocqueville masterfully analyzed the conditions, realities, and risks inherent to democratic systems, not only in America but also in Europe. He was among the first to examine both the strengths and vulnerabilities of democracy, warning his contemporaries about the threats facing our modern democracies..

The ideas of this great thinker, now renowned worldwide, continue to warn us against the ailments of our societies: the allure of authoritarian regimes, growing individualism, the tyranny of the majority, the difficulties Europeans face in reforming themselves, and—for the French—a deep-rooted preference for centralization.

Crucially, he emphasized the indispensable role of civil society and citizen engagement in addressing collective problems and preserving liberty.

Nearly two centuries later, his insights remain profoundly relevant, offering timeless guidance for navigating the social, political, and civic challenges of today.

Further reading

  We had the pleasure of organising two lectures on the thought of Alexis de Tocqueville to prepare the students who will be at the Château for the event. You will find below: 

The first was hosted by Joshua Mitchell, a political theorist at Georgetown. You can find the video of his lecture here, and the accompanying readings here. 

For the second, we had the pleasure of having Jean Yarbrough, professor of social sciences at Bowdoin. The video of her talk is here, and the readings can be downloaded here. 

We also recommend the lecture given at the Cercle Condorcet of Deauville by Mr. Jean-Louis Benoit, a Tocqueville specialist, on the theme “The Relevance of Tocqueville Today – Democracy and Democrature.” The text of this lecture can be downloaded here.

We also invite you to read Mr. Jean-Louis Benoit’s presentation on the topic “The Social Democratic State, Democracy, Despotism, and Dictatorship,” delivered during a commemorative symposium marking the 30th anniversary of the Postgraduate Philosophy Program at the Federal University of Goiás. The text is available for download here.