Granì (Sep 2014)
The impact of political culture on the functioning of democracy: analysis of ideas of Alexis de Tocqueville
Abstract
Based on the works of the French scientist A. de Tocqueville analyzed systematically constructive and destructive influence on political culture and the institutionalization of democracy in the society. In Tocqueville’s works may be divided into 2 patterns of political culture: a) American liberal-democratic; b) French authoritarian. Generalized thinker idea of values, based on which the American political culture of his time as follows: 1. Man put on an equal footing with the public. 2. Spread «spirit of the law» for all American society in general. 3. Understanding people, which is the main subject of politics and power source, as a combination of highly developed, independent, self-sufficient individuals. 4. Policy - one of the areas of self-realization and even for the average individual. In the system of value orientations policy covers the Americans first place or not. 5. Antypaternalizm in settings in which people, to the government and its agencies include disbelief, with potential worries, turning to government assistance only when absolutely can not do without it. 6. Social life is characterized by pluralism. In civil Sus-ety, there are many «power points» impact on the state by the parties, associations, media, opposition. 7. The political behavior of Americans is characterized by an open, constructive. A common policy is not the only type of collective participation (through parties and associations), but also individual. 8. The tendency of American political culture to the center, which was manifested in the unpopularity of political extremism as a type of political behavior on the part of leaders, parties, mass. 9. Legitimate functioning of the political opposition. This opposition political organizations in the United States in peace and enjoy his political activities only through legal means. 10. Formation of «money» elite and its deliberate removal of professions-term politics. Generalized Tocqueville features that define the French political culture of the first half of the 19th century: 1. Slogan «freedom / equality / fraternity» mass consciousness French gave preference to the pursuit of equality of formal legal radical projects de facto equality, which limits the freedom. 2. In the context of the old order are emerging and gaining strength through statism processes of concentration and centralization of political power in the hands of the state. Authoritarian put under your strict control as civil society and private life of people. 3. The power is controlled, catastrophic alienation of people from government and politics. 4. Authoritarian regime of the old order deformation caused mass consciousness and self consciousness promoting political extremism, political nihilism, social apathy.
