Question

What does the phrase "the tyranny of the majority" mean?

Answer 1

The phrase "the tyranny of the majority" refers to a situation where a majority group, usually in a democratic setting, is able to enforce its will on a minority group, suppressing their rights and disregarding their interests. It emphasizes the potential for a majority to wield excessive power and oppress or marginalize minority groups, resulting in an unfair imbalance of power. The phrase was popularized by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker, in his book "Democracy in America."