What did Alexis de Tocqueville mean by mild despotism?

For Alexis de Tocqueville, "mild despotism" refers to a specific, insidious threat to democracy characterized by a stagnant, paternalistic state that gradually erodes the independence and civic engagement of its citizens.1

Unlike the violent tyranny of the past, this form of despotism is subtle. Tocqueville observed that as democratic societies become more equal, individuals tend to isolate themselves within their own private circles of family and friends, neglecting public life. This growing political apathy and acquiescence allow the state to expand its reach, intervening in economic and social affairs until it creates a "universal and degrading dependence" on the government.213

In this state, the government does not necessarily use force to oppress; instead, it acts as a "tutelary power" that provides for the needs of its citizens, effectively infantilizing them and stripping them of their free will and agency. Tocqueville warned that this process leads to a society where citizens are kept in a state of perpetual childhood, ultimately sacrificing their liberty for the comfort and security provided by a centralized, administrative state.1