The Relationship between Religion and Democracy in Tocqueville's Thought

This paper is an inquiry concerning the function of religion in Tocqueville’s theory of democracy. In analyzing the ideology of Democracy in America, he stated that religion plays an important role in establishing democracy, protecting it against threats such as materialism, individualism, tyranny of majority, focusing of power, and restriction of freedom versus equality. Tocqueville explains this role by emphasizing on moral aspect and social utility of religion in democratic societies. To him, religion is the main source and backrest of private and public morality and morality, is one of the first conditions of society continuance and survival.