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Tocquevillian Ideas

Contemporary European Perspectives

Zbigniew Rau editor Marek Tracz-Tryniecki editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:University Press of America

Published:1st Apr '14

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Tocquevillian Ideas cover

This 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.

Tocquevillian 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

ISBN: 9780761863144

Dimensions: 234mm x 163mm x 18mm

Weight: 399g

178 pages