Tocqueville Road Trip: 2. Against all obstacles

The Intelligence from The Economist · Jun 13, 2026 · 44m

Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track?

Guests and Hosts

John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor

Sean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison

Jean Frantz, prisoner at Sing Sing Correctional Facility

Topics

Alexis de Tocqueville’s views on voluntary associations

Sing Sing prison education programme

Prisoners’ views on the American dream

Let us…