Home Podcasts Tocqueville Road Trip from The Economist

Tocqueville Road Trip from The Economist

The Economist 3 Episodes Jun 11, 2026

Alexis de Tocqueville arrived in New York in May 1831. America was still getting started. But this young French aristocrat was the first foreigner to foresee what it would become: not just a country, but an idea—one powerful enough to shape the future of the world. Tocqueville's nine-month road trip took him to the frontier, to the South and, eventually, to the White House. It spawned his masterpiece: “Democracy in America”. Many people still consider this book the single most insightful piece of writing on America. John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, is one of them. Now, 250 years after the birth of the republic, people inside and outside America are starting to question the vitality of its democracy. How much of what so inspired Tocqueville about America remains? In this series John Prideaux sets off to find out. He retraces the route Tocqueville took and talks to Americans around the country from all walks of life—just like he did.

Episodes

2. Against all obstacles Jun 11, 2026 44:23 Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track?Guests and HostsJohn Prideaux, The Economist’s US EditorSean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison J

1. Game of chance Jun 11, 2026 48:48 John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, embarks on a roadtrip to see how America’s democracy is faring in the era of Trump. His companion is a long-dead French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville, author of arguably the best book ever written about America. When Tocqueville arrived in New York in 1831, it was a small, low-slung city where pigs roamed the streets. But he was able to

Trailer: Tocqueville Road Trip Jun 11, 2026 3:27 Nearly two centuries ago, a French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville went on a trip around America and wrote up his findings in a book called Democracy in America. Many people still think it’s the most insightful thing ever written about the country. John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, is one of them. Tocqueville found Americans' faith in freedom and self-improvement exhilariting—

Tocqueville Road Trip from The Economist

Episodes

Recommended