Political Consequences of the Democratic Social State

Key Insight

A democratic social state inevitably leads to political equality, as it is inconceivable for men to remain eternally unequal in one aspect while equal in all others. Political equality can manifest in two ways: either rights are granted to every citizen, or they are granted to none. The democratic social state is almost equally predisposed to either outcome, presenting a 'redoubtable alternative'. This duality stems from two types of passion for equality: a 'manly and legitimate passion' that elevates the lesser, and a 'depraved taste' that compels the weak to debase the strong, leading to a preference for 'equality in servitude' over 'inequality in freedom'.

While people in democratic societies possess an 'instinctive taste' for liberty, equality is their 'principal and constant object of their desire', which they cherish with an 'eternal' passion. They may pursue liberty with sudden impulse but, if unsuccessful, resign themselves, as nothing satisfies them without equality, and they would perish rather than lose it. Moreover, when citizens are nearly equal, individual independence is difficult to defend against powerful aggression. The sole guarantee of liberty is the collective combination of forces, yet this unity is not always evident.

The Anglo-Americans, as the first people to encounter this profound choice, successfully avoided absolute power. Their circumstances, historical context, enlightenment, and particularly their mores enabled them to establish and sustain the 'sovereignty of the people'. This outcome, where all citizens possess rights, represents one of the two distinct political consequences arising from a democratic social state. It demonstrates that while the fundamental democratic condition is inherently neutral regarding political outcomes, specific societal factors can guide a nation towards freedom rather than towards absolute power.