Description
Book SynopsisThis book offers a new, European-centered approach to Tocqueville's thought. Although Tocqueville is often revered as a classic writer on the subject of American democracy, this book focuses on the multifaceted importance of his ideas within a European context. This collection of essays presents Tocqueville's vision of a diverse and united Old Continent, exploring his ideas of liberty, virtue, religion, patriotism, greatness, civic participation and democracy. These thoughts are analyzed not only in the context of Tocqueville's output, but also in the light of their potential to describe the dilemmas of contemporary Europe and to offer remedies for its problems.
Trade ReviewTocquevillian Ideas: Contemporary European Perspectives would be beneficial for postgraduate students and those who are interested in the effects of Tocqueville’s ideas on democracy and freedom in the last century; the book provides an almost comprehensive outline of the main themes in Tocqueville’s thought. * Political Studies Review *
The eight authors who reflect on Tocqueville in this book provide an authentic and effective reminder of the relevance of Tocqueville’s observation that tyranny may appear in places we least expect to see it: in democratic societies. In the best tradition of humanistic enquiry, these authors speak about the fundamentals and teach these fundamentals to the reader. -- Ewa Thompson, Rice University
Alexis de Tocqueville is the perennial social philosopher for our time. This collection of essays shows his abiding importance for the present, but also for the future of those Western societies that pride themselves on their attachment to liberty but are plainly succumbing to every single temptation that Tocqueville identified as a likely problem for democracy. The editors of this fine book have performed a great service for the cause of freedom. -- Samuel Gregg, director of research, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
Table of Contents1. Tocqueville and Europe: What Can We Learn from Him about the Past, the Present and the Future of the Old Continent? By Zbigniew Rau and Marek Tracz-Tryniecki A prophet The American Experience—Unity European Experience—Diversity The European Idea—Unity Tocqueville and the Crisis of the European Integration Project Concluding Remarks: Towards a Toquevillean Notion of European Unity 2. Tocqueville: A Thinker of Freedom By Cengiz Çağla Tocquevillian Liberty State, Society and Democracy Threats to Liberty in Democracies: Lefort and Richter readers of Tocqueville Conclusion 3. Patriotism in Democracy: What We Learn from Tocqueville By Ewa Atanassow Political Sociology of Patriotism Political Psychology of Patriotism Psychology of Patriotism Reconsidered Patriotism in Democracy In Conclusion: What do we learn from Tocqueville? 4. Tocqueville on Citizen Participation By Marinus R.R. Ossewaarde Introduction Citizen participation according to Tocqueville Citizen participation and the era of global capitalism Citizen participation, nature and the state Citizen participation and the divine significance of democracy Citizen participation and the heroism of reason Some further reflections on freedom 5. Tocqueville and the Democratic Churning By Attila K. Molnár The upgraduation of democracy What is democracy, and what is not. Individualism—the ens completum The multitude Collectivist individualism Beautiful democracy? 6. Religion, Virtue and the Ennobling of Democracy: Tocqueville's Vision of Civic Society By Oliver Hidalgo The Problem of Modern Civil Society: Freedom vs. Equality Religion and Virtue as Conditions of a Free Civil Society Catholicism against Pantheism Conclusion: Ennobling Democracy 7. Human Dignity versus Greatness: Tocqueville’s Dilemma By Marek Tracz-Tryniecki Human dignity Greatness Algeria Conclusion 8. The American Melting Pot as Reductionist Kettle: Religious Liberty's Worrisome Condition By William R. Stevenson, Jr Bibliography List of Authors Information on the Alexis de Tocqueville Centre for Political and Legal Thought
