About the science of learning how to help oneself freely through the reciprocal action of men upon each other

Abstract

The assurance of peaceful free association is one of the stays of individual freedom. When investigating the nature of individualism and the democratic society’s reaction to this compulsion, Alexis de Tocqueville notes that “it is difficult to remove an individual from him/herself so as to make him/her become interested in the destinies of the entire State”. (...). But if it is necessary to build a road next to his/her property, he/she will see at a first glance that there is a relation between this minor public issue and his/her major private business, and will discover (...) the tight knot that in this case joins private interest with general interest. It is in this scenario, which is often conflictive, that the practices of advocacy and lobbying arise.