Tocqueville Perspective of How Associations Are Viewed In France Compared To United States

            Tocqueville found that Americans joined together voluntarily in doing things compared to France where things were done by great landed aristocrats. According to Tocqueville, association in France is looked upon as a weapon which is to be hastily fashioned and always tried in a conflict (Tocqueville, 1835). An association is formed for a discussion but impending action exists in the minds of people constituting it. Actually, an army and time for speech helps to reckon up the strength and to awaken the courage of the host hence marching against the enemy. However, the right of association is differently understood in the United States. In America, citizens forming the minority associate begin by showing their numerical strength so as to lessen the moral power of the majority; secondly, in order to kindle competition thus discovering most fitted arguments to act upon the majority (Tocqueville, 1835). Therefore, in America, political associations are known to have peaceful intentions and they employ strict legal means always aiming at success through lawful expedients.

            The difference in the view of associations between these two countries depends on various causes. France has parties which vary so much from the majority which makes it hard to acquire its support and these parties always assume that they are strong enough to contend against it. Therefore such parties form an association with an aim to fight but to convince. Whereas in America, individuals with opposing opinions cannot do anything against it, and all the other parties expect to win to their own principles (Tocqueville, 1835). Therefore, the practice of rights of association becomes risky, as great parties find it hard to acquire the majority.

References

Tocqueville, A. (1835). Political Associations in the United States, 1835, and of the Use Which Americans Make of Public Associations in Civil Society, 1840.