Tocqueville and the Religion of Democracy

Abstract

The relationship between religion and democracy is a perennial debate in democratic theory. Recent arguments have been made that certain religions, especially Anglo-Protestantism, are particularly conducive to democracy. Other scholars argue that democracy can be made to fit almost any religion. This article sheds theoretical light on this confusion by construing religion differently. Although there are many religions in the world, they are all informed by an underlying dogma (i.e., an epistemological framework). On the basis of an interpretation of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, I establish two dogmas determining the shape of political and social life: the dogma of equality and the dogma of inequality. By establishing the character of these dogmas, it is demonstrated that democracy rests on the dogma of equality, but it requires religious habits to be liberal.