The Return of Conservative Movements: An Analysis from the Theory of Alexis de Tocqueville

Abstract

The resurgence of conservative and far-right movements worldwide has raised concerns about the erosion of hard-won rights. Through Alexis de Tocqueville's theory and its dialogue with contemporary theoretical perspectives, this study analyzes how neoliberal capitalism and political disengagement contribute to the consolidation of these ideologies. It argues that the conservative resurgence operates through a dual mechanism: the naturalization of conquered rights generates apathy in their defense, while the discursive resignification of these rights as minority 'privileges' legitimizes their dismantling. Empirical evidence reveals differentiated patterns: in Spain, 43% of young men identify with right-wing parties versus 26% of women (INJUVE, 2024), while in Argentina 49.5% of the low socioeconomic sector supports conservative policies compared to 33.7% of the middle-upper class (Metroscopia, 2024). The study concludes that political apathy and individualism, amplified by neoliberal modernity, weaken contemporary democracies through the erosion of collective mediations that Tocqueville identified as essential for democratic functioning. The solution lies in understanding that contemporary authoritarianism operates precisely through the capture of democratic mechanisms, requiring responses that transcend traditional democratic strategies.