Abstract
This article examines the contribution Tocqueville’s work can make to recent scholarly debates on political friendship in modernity. Tocqueville, unlike most modern classical social theorists, does not treat friendship as a private bond devoid of political significance. For him, political friendship contributes to the success of democracy and is so crucial that its absence leads to despotism. The reason Tocqueville is attuned to the political significance of personal bonds when most modern theorists are not is his interpretation of ‘the social.’ This article investigates Tocqueville’s account of political friendship relative to his analysis of the new social basis of modern democracies. I argue that, in linking friendship to the social, Tocqueville provides an account of political friendship apposite to a modern society of strangers.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
