ABSTRACT
Alexis de Tocqueville is famous for his defence of freedom in the age of democracy, advocating self-government and decentralisation, which he considers the basis for any hope of political freedom in modern society. Given this line, it is only logical that he endorses the value of cultural diversity within society, for people can only meaningfully participate in politics when they are free to live in their own culture and according to their own beliefs. This emphasis on cultural diversity is also corroborated by his thesis on race and colonial governance, as will be elaborated on in this chapter. People’s independence in their own culture is considered by Tocqueville as instrumentally useful in preparing them for political freedom. This chapter will discuss these issues in order to understand Tocqueville’s standpoint on multiculturalism, considered as the coexistence of diverse cultures within a certain political community (Kymlicka 2002: 327-376). First, we will consider Tocqueville’s position on cultural diversity in correlation with his idea of freedom. Second, his writings on race and colonial rule, which are the most directly ‘multicultural’ part of his oeuvre, will be discussed. Third, the issue of religion will be brought up in order to gain a deeper understanding of his ‘relationship’ with contemporary multiculturalism.
