Author: Alexis de Tocqueville
Synopsis
Tocqueville analyzes American democracy by examining political institutions alongside customs, religion, voluntary associations, local government, equality, and everyday social relationships. He was especially interested in how democratic equality changes people's attitudes and behavior.
Why It Matters to Sociology
The book anticipated many central concerns of modern sociology, including civil society, social capital, individualism, majority power, and the relationship between culture and institutions. It remains a major comparative study of democratic society.