When we first looked at the ancient theorists, both Plato and Aristotle advocated a form of aristocracy in which the pre-eminent members of a state would rule. Since they were the most knowledgeable, wise and virtuous, they would know what is best for a state and its citizens. But human nature has convinced us that without adequately limiting its power, a government has the power to rule arbitrarily, succumb to corruption, and introduce great inequality. Tocqueville, however, argues that the development of equality around the world has radically changed our concerns about government and that democracy has become the new standard. But due to the seductive nature of democracy, it is extremely easy for people to overdo it, so we must be cautious and aware of the spread of democracy. The democracy that Tocqueville found in America was built on the principles of equality and the “sovereignty of the will.” of the majority." These principles have only been strengthened by the U.S. Constitution, which gives a disproportionate amount of power to parliament, thus forcing the government to conform to the will of the people. In fact, majority government seems favorable, since "the interest of the greatest number should be preferred to that of the few". And while European nations seem to have become accustomed to the idea that the government of a few will know what is best for a state, Tocqueville claims the opposite. He argues that a passionate people, interested in their own affairs, are better suited to achieving “social prosperity”. But Tocqueville also admits that a democracy faces the challenge of motivating its citizens to take an interest in politics first and foremost. Centuries of hierarchical government may have made people apathetic... middle of paper... due to its extreme stance on equality and freedom, it is only one step away from anarchy or tyranny. It seems to have worked in America, but there were several factors that determined its success. The state was founded on the premise of equality, and its citizens had a strong desire to prevent the arbitrary rule of a tyrant by ensuring their active participation in government. The balance of power was also ensured by the ingenuity of the nation's founders, who were far from the dangers of democracy and established a vast and complex system to prevent its abuses. Although Tocqueville praises the American experiment, he too acknowledges that it may not be replicated in other countries. The world may inevitably become democratic, but we shouldn't embrace democracy just because it looks nice. As we have seen, democracy has numerous pitfalls and we must be cautious to avoid them.