SOC203H1 Chapter : Tocqueville reading 1.docx
Document Summary
Despotism: the exercise of absolute authority, absolute power or control. Before, there was never an absolute power that tried to subject all people indiscriminately to details of an uniform code would have failed because of: inadequate education, imperfect administrative machinery, natural obstacles raised by unequal conditions. Roman emperors had a lot of power and people obeyed same monarch, most provinces had separate administration (so details of daily/social life escaped monarch"s control) Power limited, had few main targets but left the rest of the people alone. If despotism was established in tocqueville"s time, would have degraded men rather than torment them. Rulers could easily bring public power into own hands + impede in sphere of private interests: but as men become more alike/equal, public mores become more humane + gentle. Type of oppression which threatens democracy, no word for it. Mankind consists in children and his personal friends.
