Abstract

The aim of this biographical essay is to discuss the importance of Tocqueville’s historical context in order to make interpretations of his work, which has so far been considered a timeless work, more solid. Considering Tocqueville’s upbringing, his career as a member of parliament and his experience of the 1848 revolutions will shed light on his reflections towards the development and refinement of a theoretical contribution on equality that was primarily intended as a programme of political reform for the French.