Even though half a century separates Alexis de Tocqueville from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, both theorists share similar views on several topics including the foundation of a regime, the organization of a political power and its exercise. Tocqueville can be read in a continuity from Rousseau's ideals. In the The Social Contract (1762), Rousseau proposes a model of society where men consent to obligations in exchange for peace and security. Through this contract, citizens acquire a stable representative government. Rousseau had the Republic of Geneva strongly in mind but he marks a breakthrough by creating a utopian society to inspire future lawmakers and statesmen. Democracy in America (1835) reflects Tocqueville's impressions and observations of the American regime in order to inspire France to follow a democratic path. As Tocqueville read and shared some
…show more content…
Rousseau rejects the idea of a single sovereign saying that people can only be subjected freely if they are themselves the sovereign. This idea of popular sovereignty and of the general will (event though previously used by Malebranche) are probably the most fiery points. For Rousseau the general will is the will of the people as it reflects the will of each member of society. Thus it is different from the will of the majority. As a matter of fact, the general will becomes the will of the majority when society degenerates. While Rousseau appears as a philosopher with this definition, Tocqueville resembles more an observer as he seeks to find a cure for France's political crisis in the American model. He encounters a democratic regime where the majority rule applies, that is to say that a side wins by earning the greatest number of votes and the people expresses itself through its representative majority. Democracy in America was instantly popular both in Europe and in the United
Rousseau rejects the idea of a single sovereign saying that people can only be subjected freely if they are themselves the sovereign. This idea of popular sovereignty and of the general will (event though previously used by Malebranche) are probably the most fiery points. For Rousseau the general will is the will of the people as it reflects the will of each member of society. Thus it is different from the will of the majority. As a matter of fact, the general will becomes the will of the majority when society degenerates. While Rousseau appears as a philosopher with this definition, Tocqueville resembles more an observer as he seeks to find a cure for France's political crisis in the American model. He encounters a democratic regime where the majority rule applies, that is to say that a side wins by earning the greatest number of votes and the people expresses itself through its representative majority. Democracy in America was instantly popular both in Europe and in the United