THREATS TO DEMOCRACY IN TOCQUEVILLE. „THE TYRANNY OF MAJORITIES” IN MODERN TIMES

Abstract

This article is addressed to Tocqueville's vision regarding the virtues of democracy in the United States, particularly regarding the „iqual conditions” but also refers to threats that can affect that form of ruling: the possibility of falling into despotism and tyranny of majorities.
From that point it analyzes how these two threats advance in American democracies and, at present, have given rise to talk of „neopopulism”, which refers to the existence of net populist governments in the past. Several American nations went through this kind of politics, which has left serious consequences both to political parties, institutions and in the respective societies. After overcoming the military governments that dominated the political life of the region and after the return of democracy, the author considers that populism has become entrenched again in the form of government in many countries.