Civil association

Identify a civil association in Canada today that undertakes activities and/or goals that show a political or public concern, according to Tocqueville’s discussion of civil and political associations in Democracy in America. Write a short essay of no more than 1,000 words demonstrating that this organization satisfies Tocqueville’s definition of a civil association that exhibits links to political associations and public-minded action. Essays must provide examples of what the group does and the goals or principles it espouses to support your argument that this group exemplifies the associational life that Tocqueville sees as important for democracies. You will also need to quote relevant passages from Democracy in America that describe the qualities of associations that you are showing to be evident in the case/organization that you have chosen.

For your essay, you will need to complete the assigned reading for weeks 7 and 8, with a particular emphasis on these chapters from Democracy in America: I.2.4 (pdf), II.2.5 and II.2.7 (pp. 210-219).

Associations, for the purpose of this assignment, should not include political parties or unions (due to their complexity and, in the case of parties, involvement with formal political institutions). Do not use the case of a soccer league, which mirrors the example used in lecture. You may write about an association that you are a member of or one you learned about in another class. They could be very local, like a group in your neighbourhood or at UTSC. They can be national or provincial. They should be located in Canada, rather than a global organization. You may discuss your choice of association with Prof. Shanks or your TA to see if it is likely you will have the material needed to successfully complete this assignment. For this reason, you are encouraged to start early.

In most cases, you will be relying on information about these groups from the internet, in which case you will need to cite in accordance with one of the major style guides found in the library resources for citation (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc), which typically include the name of the website or article, the URL, and the date accessed. Keep saved copies of the websites you access along with drafts of your essay, in case there are any questions later about your sources. References to Democracy in America should use embedded citations in the text, similar to the assignment on Plato’s Republic.

Essays should be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font (e.g. Times New Roman), with margins of no less than 2 cm. All essays should include your name, TA’s name, tutorial number, and a title.