Soft Despotism / Democratic Despotism

From Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
Tocqueville's prophetic description of a novel form of oppression suited to democracy: an immense tutelary power that infantilizes citizens through gentle, regulatory paternalism rather than violent tyranny.
Volume 2, Part 4, Chapter 6
What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have to Fear' — the locus classicus describing the tutelary state as 'absolute, detailed, regular, provident, and mild,' keeping citizens in 'perpetual childhood.
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