Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Feb 25, 2025
Contributors
Raúl Rodríguez
University of Chicago campus; photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

Contributors
Raúl Rodríguez
Raúl Rodríguez
Raúl Rodríguez
Summary
This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.
Summary
This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.
Listen to this article

Abstract

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript. One of the significant features of this transcript is that it contains an original interpretation and tentative critique of Tocqueville’s political philosophy. Although Strauss considered Tocqueville to be an indispensable observer of modern liberal democracy, he saw significant limits to Tocqueville’s thought. By comparing him with Aristotle and Nietzsche, among others, Strauss criticizes Tocqueville’s understanding of justice, history, and democracy. Strauss concludes that Nietzsche offers a more profound critique of liberal democracy, but one that leads to right-wing extremism. Strauss urges his students to be satisfied with Tocqueville’s more moderate and humane criticisms. Although Strauss’s tentative critique is illuminating and worth careful consideration, I challenge his interpretation and offer a Tocquevillian response to his overly intellectualized conception of social and political change.

Continue reading at Cambridge University Press

This article was originally published by Cambridge University Press in the journal Perspectives on Politics.

Continue Reading & Download PDF
10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

MacIntyre’s Post-Postliberal Godchildren

Pursuit of Happiness
Jul 3, 2025

Donald Trump’s War Against Iran

Constitutionalism
Jul 3, 2025
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts

Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 13, 2024
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Trump Victory Driven by Voters Who Reject Status Quo

The poll asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in America.

Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 11, 2024
Understanding the Effect of Abortion Attitudes on Elections After Dobbs: Evidence from Cross-Sectional and Panel Surveys in Texas

In this article, we analyze surveys that tracked voter attitudes on abortion policy before and after the Dobbs decision.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, and Daron R. Shaw
Politics
Nov 26, 2024

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
New York’s Surging New Leftist Tide Is a Chilling Warning to the West

The rise in support for Zohran Mamdani illustrates how an alliance of immigrants and the young urban precariat is taking on capitalism.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Jun 24, 2025
Trump’s Iran Ceasefire Depends on American Oil

Trump has found his own formula — based largely on America’s tech savvy and energy abundance — to intimidate enemies and control friends.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Jun 24, 2025
Trump Should Win His Court Battle with Newsom over Riot Response

The Constitution and the laws are on the president’s side.

John Yoo, Robert Delahunty
Politics
Jun 19, 2025
Getting Right with Buckley

Sam Tanenhaus’s long-awaited William F. Buckley Jr. biography will leave conservatives disappointed.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Jun 19, 2025

Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Takes On the Conservative Judiciary

Politics
Jun 2, 2025
1:05

Trump’s Drug Pricing Plan: Consequences for Innovation and Patient Access

Politics
May 13, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: The DOJ Is Being ‘Tricky’ but They May Be Right

Politics
Mar 18, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: How Will Trump Try to ‘Redirect’ the Justice Department Toward ‘Public Order and Safety’?

Politics
Mar 14, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: Musk’s Audits Are Part of Alexander Hamilton’s ‘Energetic Executive’

Politics
Feb 10, 2025
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
Will Platonic Guardians End Mass Incarceration?

Reviewing Rachel Elise Barkow's "Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration."

Paul J. Larkin
Politics
Jun 27, 2025
The Lion Rises and the Eagle Soars

Israel’s operation, whatever its ultimate outcome in geopolitical terms, has already delivered a statement for the ages.

Juliana Geran Pilon
Politics
Jun 24, 2025
Work Requirements For Medicaid Could Increase Income and Reduce Poverty

Claims that the reconciliation bill would result in income losses for the bottom 10 percent of households and increase poverty are dubious.

Scott Winship
Politics
Jun 17, 2025
The Martyr’s Message

While Alexei Navalny never sought to become a martyr, circumstances and his inner moral strength turned him into one.

Juliana Geran Pilon
Politics
Jun 16, 2025
No items found.