What the thing is
Tyranny of the majority is the domination of the political landscape by majority preferences, sidelining or repressing minorities through ostensibly democratic means.
Where it came from
Alexis de Tocqueville coined the term in Democracy in America, using it in chapter and section titles to analyse how American institutions either mitigate or manifest the phenomenon.
What it gets right
It correctly identifies that majority rule can produce systematic exclusion without violating formal democratic procedure.
What it gets wrong
It wrongly assumes majorities act as unified agents — the document shows organized minorities often dominate instead.
Why it matters now
It matters now because constitutional safeguards — supermajority rules, judicial independence, separation of powers — are under active contestation in multiple democracies.
Is it worth your time
Yes. It is a foundational tension in democratic theory, not a solved problem.
