Why did Alexis de Tocqueville’s ideas become influential again during the 20th century?

Alexis de Tocqueville’s ideas experienced a significant revival in the 20th century, a phenomenon often described as a "Tocqueville renaissance," primarily driven by the global challenges to liberal institutions during that era.1

The following factors contributed to his renewed influence:

• Totalitarianism and Crisis: The rise of totalitarian regimes, the devastation of two world wars, and the Great Depression prompted scholars to revisit his work. His insights into the preservation of liberty in public life and his methods for analyzing social tendencies were viewed as highly relevant to these modern crises.1
• Alternative to Marxism: During the Cold War, Western thinkers increasingly viewed Tocqueville as a compelling alternative to Karl Marx, positioning him as a prophet of social change who offered a different perspective on the evolution of democratic societies.1
• Focus on Civil Society: Later in the century, "neo-Tocquevillian" theorists, such as Robert D. Putnam, revived his themes to argue that the health of democracy depends on the strength of civil society and intermediary associations.3