Analysis Tocqueville′s Concept Of Democracy And Its Implications On Contemporary China

"Democracy", The noun was first used in China. It appears in the Book of"shang·duofang". But at that time, democracy is another name for king and not the meaning of modern democracy. The word of"democracy"which has the modern meaning is first appears in the book of"history". Herodotus who is an Ancient Greek historian and the "father of history" is the author of this book. So,"Democracy", this noun already has a long time of origin. It is enriched and developed the concept along with the development of history. There is a concept of democracy which was proposed by John Locke prevalent in the West. He believes that law is the premise of "democracy". Charles ? Alexis ? De ? Tocqueville who is a French political thinker is the first person of the systematic study of democracy in the 19th century. He went to the United States in the name of the U.S. prison system to investigate and study. The investigation and study lasted nine months and focused on the country's conditions and the operation of national systems. After nine months, he wrote a book named"DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA". In this book, e described the formation and development of American democracy; He described the reasons for the maintenance of a democratic system for hundreds of years and continued prosperity; He discussed the advantages and disadvantages of democracy.After the Investigation of the United States, Tocqueville found all the causes which contribute to the maintenance of the democratic republic in the United States for hundreds of years are reducible to three heads. In the first place, It is the peculiar and accidental situation in the United States. In the Second place, it is the laws. Last but by no means the least, it is the manners and customs of the people. When he Set his point, he emphasize that physical circumstances are less efficient than the laws, and the laws infinitely less so than the customs of the people. he was convinced that the most advantageous situation and the best possible laws can′t maintain a constitution in spite of the customs of a country. The customs of the people are the most efficient in American democratic society. When he investigated and studied the democratic society, he not only saw the advantage of a democratic but also the defect and weakness. Even though there are disadvantages of democracy, but he did not deny democracy. He believes that and means to boot the drawbacks of democracy, and constantly improve the wisdom of democracy is the move. He thought it is wise to improve democracy through a series of methods.This article mainly consists of five chapters to discuss Tocqueville′s concept of democracy .The introduction part carried on the origin of democracy in China and western countries. The second chapter briefly describes the life of Tocqueville and the background of Tocqueville′s concept of democracy. The third chapter has an in-depth discussion of the formation and development of American democracy, the reasons for the maintenance of a democratic system for hundreds of years and continued prosperity. It discusses the reasons for the maintenance of a democratic system for hundreds of years and continued prosperity though circumstance, laws and customs. Chapter Four describes the content of Tocqueville′s concept of democracy including three sides: the relationship among equality, democracy and freedom. the democracy and the tyranny of the majority. the methods of avoiding the tyranny of the majority. The final chapter describes the revelation of Tocqueville′s concept of democracy to build a socialist harmonious society in China.In short, Tocqueville′s concept of democracy is an important asset in the history of democracy. At the present stage, his detailed experience of investigation about local conditions, political systems and legal policy in the United States has a certain inspiration for China. It provides a valuable theoretical experience to improve Chinese democratic system.