Relevance of Tocqueville Democracy in America - Essay Example

?Relevance of Tocqueville Democracy in America Though there are many definitions of democracy, democracy generally refers to an egalitarian mode of governance where unity in public policy and legislation calls for equality among the qualified citizens. Indeed, democracy is more of a practice than a belief. A democratic political system allows ideal approximation of democracy. However, democracy has evolved with time from the old democracy to the modern democracy with very distinguishing characteristics. Indeed, the world should be prepared for the emergence of new forms of democracy in the 21st century. In fact, it is already cropping up in the Middle East and Africa (Resnick, 1997, p. 1-3). Parliamentary democracy, which allows citizens to make national opinions through parliamentary elections and voting systems, is the most modern form of democracy. Many countries in the world practice parliamentary democracy with an exception of a few which have in recent times faced rampant revolutions as the world calls for democratic rights. The synonymous attributes of democracy are equality and freedom where all are equal in law and sovereignty is supreme in any nation. Many theories, studies, and research characterize the definitions and explanations to the history, existence, and development of democracy from the ancient times to the twenty first century. Theorists and sociologists like Max Webber, Karl Max, Joseph Schumpter, Vilfredo Pareto, and others explain the emergence, importance, and even the flaws of democracy. Ideally, democratic nations find value in developing their nation, educating their children, living in peace with their neighbors, deter aggression, and realize economic and social wealth. The United States of America is one of the most democratic nations in the world. Actually, the respects for human rights and democracy are the core values of U.S foreign policy. As such, America not only uses democracy for its national benefits but also seeks to instill democracy in other nations (U.S Department of State, 2012, p.1). In an effort to analyze democracy in America, Tocqueville ventured in a study, Democracy in America written from 1835 to 1840. In doing this study, he traced his experience from the failed attempts of democracy in his native France. He sought to establish the democratic language in U.S and his works were very significant in that the book contains topics that feature in modern democracy like religion, race, class, money, and governance. He aimed at analyzing the functioning of the American political system, civil societies, and their interrelations in comparison with the rest of society and the Europe. In his study, he concludes that American democracy entails Love of equality, individualism, absence of cultures, significance of free association, and tyranny of the majority. More fundamental, he made democratic predictions that have happened in the twenty first century as the divisions in United States over the abolition of slavery, which actually took place in the American Civil War. He also predicted the rise of U.S and Russia as rival superpowers, which actually took place after the Second World War. In addition, he predicted that an industrial aristocracy would rise from the ownership of labor, a fact that stands out in the recent times. He hoped to determine the merits and demerits of the American democracy for purposes of reinforcing the merits and addressing the demerits (Morgan, 2006, p.1). However, his study has faced a lot of criticism from fellow and modern academicians, theorists, and sociologists. All the critics lead to the conclusion that Tocqueville study on Democracy in America contains little relevance to the study of democracy in the twenty first century. To criticize his assertions, they have considerably pegged their arguments, observations, and assumptions on various factors including inconsistencies, lack of clarity, rhetoric, contradictions, and the ineffective democratic language characterized in his Democracy in America study. These factors contribute to the degree of irrelevance in his study in reaction to the study of democracy in the twenty first century. Indeed, until when the journal of democracy sought an intellectual debate through Tocqueville texts on issues affecting the future of democracy in the year 2000, the works of Alexis de Tocqueville were a mystery in France and highly irrelevant to the growing industrial immigration to America. Nobody sought the concerns of his study before this time (Welch, 2006, p.1). Tocqueville study only addressed the reader’s concerns but failed to establish a concise theory on political systems and the general society. Indeed, he failed terribly in trying to institute a democratic language to link the European transition to democracy in the nineteenth century. He only succeeded in focusing on political anxieties rather than political systems hence missing the point on addressing the reality of democracy in mid twentieth century. His inadequacies manifest from the many editions of his study that crop up in real times. All these literatures seek to review his works to relevance with the study of democracy in the 21st century. However, he remains an icon in the field of philosophy, political science, sociology, and history with politicians who quote his works to invoke Tocqueville benediction to their advantage. Indeed, his study was more significant in studying American history, instructing sociologists, and largely inspiring political scientists (Welch, 2006, p.5). This adds no relevance to the study of democracy in the 21st century. However, it his admission to generalization than factualness that makes his work less relevant to the study of democracy in the 21st century. He used a comparative thinking process to reach his arguments while admitting that without comparisons the human mind cannot forge ahead. This assertion cannot apply in the study of democracy in the 21st century because facts cannot arise from comparisons. Additionally, comparisons do not offer a logical theoretical advantage sought in the study of democracy in the 21st century. The comparisons manifest theoretical inconsistency, partial conclusions, and the details deviate from the topic of democracy (Welch, 2006, p.6). Other theorists argue that America should infer Tocqueville political science from practice of Americans and most specifically practicing democracy. Political science focuses on political legitimacy and fancies liberal government. As such, the partial the study on democracy in the 21st century cannot rely on a democratic liberalization as it ignores social contract, right of consent and sovereignty of a nation all of which negate modern democracy. In his study, Tocqueville introduces a gap between greatness and virtue by being against the ancient political thought and the modern liberal tradition of natural rights. This unfamiliar position negates the pursuit for democracy and hence not relevant in the study on democracy in the 21st century. Moreover, his criticism on modernity and his view on democracy as an aspect of greatness or pride that is actually not factual in a democratic study. However, his works are unique in literature where they feature as literary classics that do not necessarily amount to intellectuality that is fundamental in the study on democracy in the 21st century (Welch, 2006, p.9). Tocqueville suppresses his sources and omits distracting exegesis in his study for purposes of creating a direct tie in describing and shaping democracy, a rhetoric act that conspicuously failed to hit the point of concern in his democracy study that eventually led to his withdrawal from a quest to establish a new democratic language. This failure to convince himself in his study only proves the inappropriateness of his study in study for democracy in the 21st century. Additionally, in his texts, Tocqueville only addressed the relation of freedom and inequality in modern societies using a shallow mind. It is a fact that the study of democracy is wide and hence his concern on only one topic renders his study less relevant to the study for democracy in the 21st century (Welch, 2006, p.1). Tocqueville position on despotism was also not constant and varied with time. He is equally on a deep collision course with religion and philosophy, which are very vital in modern democracy. However, his sensibility on religion accords him ma chance to illuminate the fragile freedom in the modern democracy. As such, his input on religion does not exclusively amount to irrelevancy in the study for democracy in the 21st century. Indeed, his insight in democracy in America, defines the connection between religion and equal social conditions that is relevant in the study for democracy in the 21st century (Welch, 2006, p. 14). Tocqueville study on democracy in America is ambiguous and therefore not well understood by Americans who have preconceptions about their democracy. Hence, his study will have little relevance to the study for democracy in the 21st century (Welch, 2006, p.16). Additionally, his comparison of American democracy with the entire Europe did not augur well. Ideally, the fact that he had his roots in France where he became a philosopher, added to the demeaning of his study by fellow theorist who criticized his study. However, the recent debate has evoked references to his study as Americans came to reality with his study and predictions. His potential to analyze and predict issues of democracy in early America and Europe at large, tags his study to public debates on democracy. In conclusion, I reckon that the study for democracy is very fundamental in the 21st century. Where democracy is increasingly gaining roots in the world, it is necessary to rely on relevant studies for purposes of drawing the history, contents, development, and application of democracy in the world. Tocqueville study on democracy in America is significant in the debates on democracy with many theorists criticizing it of being partial, un-detailed, shallow, ambiguous, and deviating from the topic of concern, democracy. Nevertheless, the study has a number of contributions to democracy and there have been arguments, counterarguments, and many reviews to its respect. Indeed, it is useful in sociology, history, political science, and literature. As such, though Tocqueville study on democracy in America is dominant in many fronts, it is less relevant to the study for democracy in the 21st century subject to its demerits discussed herein. Works Cited Morgan, j n.y, Democracy in America Viewed 30 March 2012, Resnick, P 1997, Twenty-first century democracy McGill-Queen's Press. U.S Department of State 2012, Democracy Viewed 30 March 2012, Welch, S 2006, Tocqueville in the twenty first century Viewed 30 March 2012, Read More