Democracy: Then, now and tomorrow
Democracy: Then, Now & Tomorrow
POLI 341(Ancient & Medieval Political Thought)
15/10/2014
The on-going debate about how transitional democracies (especially in Africa) can progress to advanced liberal democracies has received inputs from various scholars and thinkers of diverse backgrounds. While some have called for changes in the political economic institutions of these states, others have suggested alterations in the socio-cultural superstructure. One thing however remains certain that the modern advanced democracy practiced today has its roots from the ancient Greek city-state of Athens. It is from this premise that the preamble for this discussion seeks to suggest that for Ghana (a transitional democracy) to successfully make it to the promised land of advanced democracy, she must revisit this ancient Athenian model of what democracy actually is.
This paper therefore seeks to evaluate Ghana’s current democratic standing in juxtaposition to the ancient Athenian democracy in order to determine if there is indeed a “need” for this strategic move. For this purpose, there is then a need to understand exactly what has become the accepted benchmark for categorising a democracy as “Advanced”. States with institutionalized democracy and a high level of economic development (Shane S, 2009). O’Neil (2003) mentions as the core political features of an advanced democracy, Civil Liberty, the Rule of Law, Neutrality of the Judiciary, Open Civil Society and Civilian control of the military. A comparison then of this state of democracy with both the ancient Athenian model and the transitional makes this discussion more comprehensive. Proponents and subscribers of the ancient Athenian democracy have advanced a number of arguments, chief amongst which are discussed below.
They have posited that this form of democracy promoted civic consciousness in a larger sense. In order for citizens to participate actively and wisely in the
POLI 341(Ancient & Medieval Political Thought)
15/10/2014
The on-going debate about how transitional democracies (especially in Africa) can progress to advanced liberal democracies has received inputs from various scholars and thinkers of diverse backgrounds. While some have called for changes in the political economic institutions of these states, others have suggested alterations in the socio-cultural superstructure. One thing however remains certain that the modern advanced democracy practiced today has its roots from the ancient Greek city-state of Athens. It is from this premise that the preamble for this discussion seeks to suggest that for Ghana (a transitional democracy) to successfully make it to the promised land of advanced democracy, she must revisit this ancient Athenian model of what democracy actually is.
This paper therefore seeks to evaluate Ghana’s current democratic standing in juxtaposition to the ancient Athenian democracy in order to determine if there is indeed a “need” for this strategic move. For this purpose, there is then a need to understand exactly what has become the accepted benchmark for categorising a democracy as “Advanced”. States with institutionalized democracy and a high level of economic development (Shane S, 2009). O’Neil (2003) mentions as the core political features of an advanced democracy, Civil Liberty, the Rule of Law, Neutrality of the Judiciary, Open Civil Society and Civilian control of the military. A comparison then of this state of democracy with both the ancient Athenian model and the transitional makes this discussion more comprehensive. Proponents and subscribers of the ancient Athenian democracy have advanced a number of arguments, chief amongst which are discussed below.
They have posited that this form of democracy promoted civic consciousness in a larger sense. In order for citizens to participate actively and wisely in the
References: Champ C.B. (2005, 09 06). Democracy Ancient and Modern. Maxwell123 Athens. Retrieved october 10, 2014 Landon, T. T. (n.d.). A HistoryOf Political Theory (4th ed.). New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT Ltd. Ober, J. (2001). Political Dissent in Democratic Athens: Intellectual Critics of Popular Rule. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. O 'Neil, P. (2003). Advanced Democracies. In P. Oneil, Essentials of Comparative Politics. W.W. Norton Studyspace. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/compol4/ch/08/chapterReview.aspx Shane S. (2009, 03 04). Advanced Democracies. In O. P, Advanced Democracies (p. 3). Retrieved october 10, 2014 Thorley, J. (2005). Athenian Democracy. Routledge. Thucydides. (n.d.). The Peloponnesian Wars (Vol. Book 1). Rex Warner translation. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2014, September 25). (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc) Retrieved october 10, 2014, from Wikimedia Foundation, Inc Web Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom