American Institutions and Their Influence

Alexis de Tocqueville (29 July 1805 - 16 April 1859) was a French aristocrat, diplomat, political scientist and historian. He is best known for his works Democracy in America and The Old Regime and the Revolution. Tocqueville was active in French politics but retired from political life after Napoléon Bonaparte's 1851 coup. Tocqueville was a classical liberal who advocated parliamentary government and was skeptical of the extremes of democracy. During his time in parliament, he sat on the centre-left, but the complex and restless nature of his liberalism has led to contrasting interpretations and admirers across the political spectrum.