Tocqueville's Democratic Theory And Its Contemporary Value

As a prominent political thinker and historian in nineteenth—century France, Alexis de Tocqueville has been extensively studied internationally in diverse research fields after the Second World War. Combining his era background, this thesis intends to present his theory of democracy, manly the theory of"Majority Tyranny", in order to reveal this theory's value meaning to the modern society.The study state and meaning about Tocqueville'political thought are briefly analyzed in the introduction. The first chapter firstly introduce"the political person"Tocqueville, and discuss his democratic ideas, political career and concern. Secondly, explore the era background and the social origin, which Tocqueville's theory of democracy was shaped from, and it also tells us the characteristics of this theory. The second chapter specifically discusses the basic characteristics of the modern democratic society. By investigated and thought about the democratic institution of America in detail, and on the basis of that he summarized the basic characteristic of the modern democratic society. The third chapter is about the relationship between democracy, equality and freedom. At first, plead for the justification of democracy, and at the same time understand Tocqueville's democracy.; secondly, explore the contradiction between democracy and freedom. At last, reveal the true relationship between equality and freedom. The fourth chapter describes"Majority Tyranny"which Tocqueville worried about. By observing the truth of the democratic society, analyzing its meaning, form, expression and influence of"Majority Tyranny", and the methods of weakening it. The fifth chapter studies the value of Tocqueville's theory of democracy. It isemphasized that the theory has an outstanding position in history of the Western political thought. It points out the historic defects of the theory. The practical enlightenment of Tocqueville's theory to the contemporary democratic countrys is that we can better promote the democratic progress of our country. The thesis also reveal the Tocqueville's ambition—to realize the freedom.