The Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society is an intellectual community devoted to seeking the truth about the moral and philosophic questions at the heart of political life.  We host curricular and extracurricular activities designed to help students and faculty to engage seriously with the most powerful arguments behind diverse and competing religious, political and ethical points of view.

We believe that shared, disciplined inquiry into disputed questions is essential to preserving the delicate fabric of our civilization. Our work is inspired by Alexis de Tocqueville—a 19th-century French statesman, author, and traveler—who developed a “new science of politics” to understand the modern democratic soul. On the contested questions of his time, Tocqueville sought to see “not differently, but further than the [political] parties.” We aim to follow his example, forming thoughtful citizens who pursue truth beyond partisanship and help preserve the conditions necessary for liberty and self-government.