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About this quote

What does it mean?
The phrase 'will of the nation' is frequently misused by dictators and manipulators to justify power.
In plain terms
Leaders often fake the idea of a national will to control people.
What can you take from it?
Political slogans claiming to represent the people can mask oppression.

Where it applies

  • political discourse
  • leadership ethics
  • public debate

Putting it to work

  • critiquing political slogans
  • auditing power claims
  • teaching civic literacy

Questions to consider

  • How do you verify national will?
  • Who benefits from using this phrase?

Another view

Sometimes the phrase reflects genuine democratic consent.

More from Alexis de Tocqueville

  1. The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary crisis, or a battle.

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  2. There are at the present time two great nations in the world-I allude to the Russians and the Americans- All other nations seem to have nearly reached their na…

    Permalink to quote #94
  3. The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through.

    Permalink to quote #91

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