Editing Alexis de Tocqueville (section)

=== 1847 "Report on Algeria" ===
In his 1847 "Report on Algeria", Tocqueville declared that Europe should avoid making the same mistake they made with the [[European colonization of the Americas]] in order to avoid the bloody consequences.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} Jean-Louis Benoît. [http://www.revue-lebanquet.com/fr/art/2001/299.htm "Arguments in favor of Tocqueville"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216051008/http://www.revue-lebanquet.com/fr/art/2001/299.htm|date=16 February 2006}}.</ref> More particularly he reminds his countrymen of a solemn caution whereby he warns them that if the methods used towards the Algerian people remain unchanged, colonization will end in a blood bath. Tocqueville includes in his report on Algeria that the fate of their soldiers and finances depended on how the French government treats the various native populations of Algeria, including the various Arab tribes, independent Kabyles living in the [[Atlas Mountains]] and the powerful political leader [[Abdelkader El Djezairi|Abd-el-Kader]]. The latter stresses the obtainment and protection of land and passageways that promise commercial wealth. In the case of Algeria, the Port of Algiers and the control over the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] were considered by Tocqueville to be particularly valuable whereas direct control of the political operations of the entirety of Algeria was not. Thus, the author stresses domination over only certain points of political influence as a means to colonization of commercially valuable areas.<ref name="Tocqueville 2001, pp. 57–64" />

Tocqueville argued that although unpleasant, domination via violent means is necessary for colonization and justified by the laws of war. Such laws are not discussed in detail; however, given that the goal of the French mission in Algeria was to obtain commercial and military interest as opposed to self-defense, it can be deduced that Tocqueville would not concur with [[just war theory]]'s ''[[jus ad bellum]]'' criteria of just cause. Furthermore, given that Tocqueville approved of the use of force to eliminate civilian housing in enemy territory, his approach does not accord with just war theory's ''jus in bello'' criteria of [[Proportionality (law)|proportionality]] and discrimination.<ref>De Tocqueville. ''Writings on Empire and Slavery'', ed. Jennifer Pitts (2001), pp. 57–64, 70–78.</ref>