This essay discusses the question whether – regarding the United States in the late 18th and 19th centuries – we should consider that political values or political institutions were more responsible for the maintenance of democratic practices. For this purpose the arguments of Madison, Tocqueville and Hartz are reconsidered. Since the fall of Rome there was no long lasting democracy in the history of mankind, though there had been several attempts to establish one, all failed in terms of duration. So the founding fathers of the American Constitution in the late 18th century were deeply concerned about the possible failure of the young democracy. So far all empirical evidence supported Platon’s teachings of a cycle of returning political regimes that led inevitably from democracy to oligarchy to dictatorship and again to monarchy. The construction of a political system that was both democratic and stable had never worked before. So the main question of this essay, whether political values or political institutions were more responsible for the maintenance of democratic practices, was essential to the people of that time.
The Federalists’ most important question is: How can one create a stable political order that is still free and democratic? Their answer is: By carefully constructing the political institutions in a way that compensates the imperfection of man. In contrast to this Tocqueville and, tying up to him, Hartz are pointing out the necessity of political values to maintain democratic practices. In my opinion, institutions are more important than political culture in order to create a stable political system, but surely both factors cannot be isolated from each other. Not only do they strongly depend on each other but can probably even be regarded as two sides of the same coin. To prove this thesis I will first introduce the different approaches of Madison, substitutional for The Federalists, who favour a strong state, and of Tocqueville and Hartz, who rather accentuate the importance of political culture and civic virtues. In my opinion all three authors agree on the relevance of both pillars of democracy – polities and culture. Indeed, I believe that Tocqueville recognises the need for strong institutions just as much as Madison. Furthermore I want to introduce “economic prosperity” as a third stability granting factor to which in my opinion is paid too little attention by the relevant authors.
Table of Contents
I. The maintenance of democracy
II. Madison and The Federalists in favour of a strong state
III. Tocqueville’s and Hartz’ accentuation of political culture and civic virtues
IV. Is there really so much difference between Madison and Tocqueville?
V. The economic prosperity as a third stability granting factor
VI. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This essay explores the foundational factors responsible for the stability and maintenance of democratic practices in the United States during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The research examines the relative importance of institutional design, political culture, and economic prosperity in ensuring the longevity of the American democratic experiment.
- The institutional framework and "checks and balances" proposed by Madison and the Federalists.
- The role of political culture, civic virtues, and the "liberal tradition" as argued by Tocqueville and Hartz.
- The impact of economic prosperity as a fundamental "glue" for social and political stability.
- A critical analysis of the interdependencies between political structures and societal values.
Excerpt from the Book
II. Madison and The Federalists in favour of a strong state
During the war of independence, the former colonies had reached a state of unity that resembled more an alliance. The Confederation established a first constitution in 1781 which provided a “Continental Congress” with each of the thirteen states being represented by one vote. A state wishing to do so could have easily withdrawn from the Confederation. The Congress could settle disputes amongst the states or admit new states, and regulate relations to foreign countries (Dolbeare/Cummings, 2004, p. 52). But nevertheless the central government was weak not only in comparison to foreign states but also compared to the federal states themselves. The Congress had no power to raise taxes or to regulate any kind of commerce, also it could not dispose over military troops. Facing these problems, a convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787 in order to find better rules for the Federation. Finally, it came up with a new Constitution.
Summary of Chapters
I. The maintenance of democracy: Provides a historical overview of the fragility of democracy and introduces the core conflict between institutional design and political culture.
II. Madison and The Federalists in favour of a strong state: Analyzes the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the US Constitution, highlighting Madison's focus on institutional solutions to prevent the tyranny of the majority.
III. Tocqueville’s and Hartz’ accentuation of political culture and civic virtues: Examines Tocqueville’s and Hartz’ perspectives on how cultural values and "mores" influence the survival of democratic practices.
IV. Is there really so much difference between Madison and Tocqueville?: Argues that both authors share a complex understanding of the need for both strong institutions and cultivated political values.
V. The economic prosperity as a third stability granting factor: Introduces economic stability and the promise of social advancement as a vital, often overlooked, support mechanism for American democracy.
VI. Conclusion: Synthesizes the arguments, suggesting that political institutions, values, and economic prosperity form an interdependent triad that ensures the stability of the American democratic tradition.
Keywords
American Constitution, Federalist Papers, James Madison, Alexis de Tocqueville, Louis Hartz, Political Institutions, Political Culture, Civic Virtues, Democracy, Liberalism, Economic Prosperity, Checks and Balances, Tyranny of the Majority, Republicanism, Pragmatism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this scholarly work?
The essay investigates which factors—political values or political institutions—were more responsible for the maintenance and stability of democratic practices in the United States during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
What are the central thematic pillars discussed?
The work focuses on the institutional design advocated by the Federalists, the role of political culture and civic virtues identified by Tocqueville and Hartz, and the role of economic prosperity in maintaining citizen support for the state.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The author aims to weigh the importance of these three factors and argue that they are not isolated, but rather represent interdependent elements that together sustain democratic stability.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a comparative theoretical analysis, contrasting the political philosophies of Madison, Tocqueville, and Hartz, supplemented by a historical assessment of early American governance and socioeconomic conditions.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body examines the structural limitations of the Confederation, Madison’s theory of checks and balances, Tocqueville's observations on the "doctrine of self-interest," Hartz's analysis of the "liberal tradition," and the historical impact of the American economy.
Which key terms characterize the essay?
Key terms include the "tyranny of the majority," "checks and balances," "liberalism," "republicanism," "civic virtues," and "economic prosperity."
How does the author characterize Madison's view on government?
The author characterizes Madison as being deeply suspicious of unbridled human nature, advocating for a strong, functionally separated government that uses ambition to counteract ambition.
What is the author's critique of Louis Hartz?
The author criticizes Hartz for masking significant social conflicts in American history by overemphasizing a total ideological consensus around liberalism.
What role does the "economy" play in this analysis?
The author argues that economic prosperity serves as the "glue" that binds political institutions and cultural support, providing citizens with the physical well-being necessary to maintain faith in the democratic system.
- Quote paper
- Peter Neitzsch (Author), 2006, Tocqueville and Hartz v. Madison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/63241
