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Tocqueville’S Civic Republicanism : The Balance Between Equality And Liberty In American Democracy, Clifford Brantley Smith

Dissertations and Theses

At the heart of America's experience with liberal democratic institutions remains the continuous struggle between liberty and equality. The two are opposed, but form the dual foundation upon which American democracy rests. One foundation emphasized the importance of equal political rights and equality of opportunity. This theme considers the prospects of a person are not predetermined at birth, as in an aristocratic country, but instead are left to be filled by the decisions made through life. Yet for people to have the greatest options available as they steer their way through life, there must also exist the second foundation of …