The Fragility of Freedom: Tocqueville on Religion, Democracy, and the American Future

by Joshua Mitchell

In this fresh interpretation of Tocqueville's thought, Joshua Mitchell explores the dynamic interplay between religion and politics in American democracy.

Focusing on Democracy in America , The Fragility of Freedom examines Tocqueville's key works and argues that his analysis of democracy is ultimately rooted in an Augustinian view of human psychology. As much a work of political philosophy as of religion, The Fragility of Freedom argues for the importance of a political theology that recognizes moderation.

"An intelligent and sharply drawn portrait of a conservative Toqueville."—Anne C. Rose, Journal of American History

"I recommend this book as one of a very few to approach seriously the sources of Tocqueville's intellectual and moral greatness."—Peter Augustine Lawler, Journal of Politics

"Mitchell ably places Democracy in America in the long conversation of Western political and theological thought."—Wilfred M. McClay, First Things

"Learned and thought-provoking."—Peter Berkowitz, New Republic

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1995

About the author

Joshua Mitchell is a professor of Government at Georgetown University and a “1776 Unites” partner.

Reviews

[Mikael Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exposition of the Augustinian soul by way of Tocqueville (and Plato, Nietzsche, and Rousseau). In the democratic age, the soul that is restless until it rests in God is liberated from the aristocratic hierarchies that constrained its movement but also provided it with stability and a sort of rest. The newly liberated soul cannot maintain the fragile equilibrium once imposed on it from without, so it either exhausts itself in a frenzy of worldly activity (excessive motion) or withdraws into solipsistic torpor (self-enclosure). For this democratic pathology (really the self-love of the earthly city laid bare), Tocqueville offers a transcendent remedy—Christian religion—as well as an immanent one—local associational life. Both are necessary to draw the democratic soul out of its solitude into a controlled, sustained motion, and alleviate its temptation to surrender its freedom to an all-powerful state.

Habits, institutions, and practical experience can do much to tutor democracy and keep it from swinging to dangerous extremes. Ultimately, though, history cannot be mastered by human beings but only dwelt in by faith in the Lord of history. Even the public revitalization of religion cannot provide us with the stable and harmonious social order we long for. Only in God himself will we find true repose for the soul, and true human relations where differences are mediated and envy and suspicion are overcome.