Safeguarding American Democracy

Paper Summary:

This is a critical paper on the nature of American Democracy, largely focusing on the writing of James Madison and Alexis de Tocqueville. The author compares and contrasts the two writers and their respective philosophies, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of each in Democratic factions.

From the Paper:

"In his book, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville spends a fair amount of time discussing the American's fondness for association. This formation of associations is looked upon by some, especially James Madison, as threatening and injurious towards the political process of the United States. By others, like Robert Putnam, this process of association can make life easier and contributes enormously to the idea of social capital. Often, the most difficult aspect of government is establishing how it will be run and how it will govern. The heart of this debate lies in whether or not it is better for American democracy to promote the political involvement of its citizens or whether to let the government "run of itself". It is my position that, although more democratic, Putnam and Tocqueville's concept of social equality would not be able to be maintained."

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