Question

Who among the following political thinkers considered democracy to be "the tyranny of the majority"?

• A. Alexis de Tocqueville
• B. James Madison
• C. James Mill
• D. Jeremy Bentham

Hint:

Tocqueville’s "Democracy in America" discusses how a majority can overpower the rights of minorities in democratic societies.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Tocqueville's Viewpoint.
- Alexis de Tocqueville, in "Democracy in America," critiqued democracy, cautioning that the majority's will could oppress minorities, leading to "tyranny of the majority."
Step 2: Option Evaluation.
- (A) Alexis de Tocqueville: Correct. He is renowned for emphasizing this problem in his analysis of American democracy.
- (B) James Madison: Madison worried about majority rule but didn't coin the term "tyranny of the majority."
- (C) James Mill: Mill stressed individual liberty but didn't specifically use "tyranny of the majority."
- (D) Jeremy Bentham: Bentham advocated utilitarianism; his ideas didn't center on "tyranny of the majority."
Step 3: Final Answer.
The correct answer is (A) Alexis de Tocqueville.