Alexis de Tocqueville’s seminal work, Democracy in America, argues that social factors in the United States are at least as significant as its Constitution. Direct democracy in New England towns, Christianity, and women’s education as free citizens all help cultivate the virtues and skills necessary for democratic self-government. Tocqueville also acknowledges the dangers democracy can pose to freedom, chief among them the tyranny of the majority and the rise of individualism. America is not immune to these threats. Yet the social structures and habits of the young democracy instill in its citizens a doctrine of “self-interest well understood.” This self-interest, Tocqueville admits, is not a noble virtue. But it embeds within the social fabric a vital safeguard for liberty in a government otherwise instinctively oriented toward equality. According to Tocqueville, these practical aspects of American society reconcile the tensions between freedom and equality.
Program Overview
This certificate program is designed to provide policy professionals with an intensive introduction to Alexis de Tocqueville’s analysis of democracy and its enduring relevance for American public life. Through close textual seminars, guided discussions, and applied policy conversations, participants will examine Tocqueville’s insights on equality, liberty, civic association, religion, and the habits of the heart that sustain self-government. The program invites participants to consider both the strengths and vulnerabilities of democratic societies, and to reflect on the civic and institutional foundations necessary for American democracy to endure in the twenty-first century.
Seminar Modules
Through close textual seminars, participants will immerse themselves in Tocqueville’s analysis of democracy, examining the principles and social dynamics that sustain free societies.
Simulation
At the conclusion of the program, candidates will participate in an intensive simulation where they will utilize their new expertise to grapple with the practical challenges of democratic governance, applying Tocqueville’s insights on equality, civic life, and political institutions to navigate complex policy dilemmas in a modern democratic society.
Capstone Project
Candidates will showcase their newly gained policy insight by completing their choice of an op-ed or policy memo. Projects are due a week after the end of program and will be assessed by committee upon the basis of their strategic soundness, original analysis, and grasp of the policy area. The quality of this project will determine if candidates are awarded the certification.
Eligibility and Applying
Applications are rolling. Applicants should meet the following criteria:
Applications require a personal statement, writing sample, and resume.
Candidates participate free of charge. You can find further information and apply here.
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