Final answer:
James Madison favored a republican government to prevent the tyranny of a majority over a minority. He believed a large, diverse republic would safeguard against the dominance of unjust majorities and ensure the protection of individual rights through elected representatives. Concurrently, other thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and John C. Calhoun contributed to the discourse on democracy and the majority rule's potential to become despotic.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to James Madison, a society in which the majority can oppress the minority reflects a form of government akin to tyranny rather than a true democracy or republic. Madison advocated strongly for a republican form of government as it includes mechanisms to protect minority rights and prevent the majority from unfairly imposing their will. Madison's argument was that in a large republic, such as the United States, the diversity of interests and factions makes it difficult for an unjust majority to dominate. Moreover, the representative nature of a republic would ensure that elected officials would protect the government from control by an unjust majority, ensuring protection for all.
Madison's writings, especially in Federalist No. 10, highlight his views on the dangers of pure democracy and the importance of a republic in safeguarding individual rights and preventing the tyranny of the majority. Representatives, who are to possess merit, act as a buffer against the encroachment of majority rule on minority rights.
In contrast, figures like Alexis de Tocqueville and John C. Calhoun also provided critical insights into democracy and majority rule. Tocqueville warned about the potential for the majority will to turn tyrannical in a pure democracy, while Calhoun discussed the idea of a concurrent majority as a means to protect society from a hostile government.