What Was Wrong with the Ancient Athenian Democracy?
What was wrong with the ancient Athenian democracy?
One of the most remarkable elements of the modern world of politics is the surprising popularity of democracy. The word and the concept of democracy, which nowadays is mostly seen as a necessary form of government for the 21st century,
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emerged for the first time in Antiquity, in the city-state of Athens in the 5th century BC. After so many years, the word, demokratia, still has the same meaning, the rule of the people. As a form of government, Athenian democracy cannot be identified with the modern democracy, as many important discrepancies appeared between them. Even though, it represented for thinkers a governmental model, and this is why, its fundamental ideas can be found in the practice of the modern political life. In this essay I will try to prove whether the Athenian democracy was, a democratic regime or not, by presenting the Athenian political life. In the first part of my essay I will briefly present the way that democracy was seen by the ancient people. In the second part I will discuss the most important characteristics of the Athenian democracy, highlighting its fundamental elements that are now present in the modern reality. Being aware of the important distinction between these two regimes which are both called democracy, I will concentrate on making comparisons between the political life of the ancient democracy and the modern political reality. This way, I will be able to explain why the first form of democracy can or cannot be seen as a democratic regime. In the end, I will state my conclusion, based on arguments.
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For many years, democracy represented an outstanding subject with a great influence on political philosophy. For example, during the 5th and the 6th centuries, those who were supporting democracy, had to confront many critics. One of the first writers who discussed the concept of democracy was Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher. Plato claimed that
One of the most remarkable elements of the modern world of politics is the surprising popularity of democracy. The word and the concept of democracy, which nowadays is mostly seen as a necessary form of government for the 21st century,
26/01/2011-08:35:02
emerged for the first time in Antiquity, in the city-state of Athens in the 5th century BC. After so many years, the word, demokratia, still has the same meaning, the rule of the people. As a form of government, Athenian democracy cannot be identified with the modern democracy, as many important discrepancies appeared between them. Even though, it represented for thinkers a governmental model, and this is why, its fundamental ideas can be found in the practice of the modern political life. In this essay I will try to prove whether the Athenian democracy was, a democratic regime or not, by presenting the Athenian political life. In the first part of my essay I will briefly present the way that democracy was seen by the ancient people. In the second part I will discuss the most important characteristics of the Athenian democracy, highlighting its fundamental elements that are now present in the modern reality. Being aware of the important distinction between these two regimes which are both called democracy, I will concentrate on making comparisons between the political life of the ancient democracy and the modern political reality. This way, I will be able to explain why the first form of democracy can or cannot be seen as a democratic regime. In the end, I will state my conclusion, based on arguments.
1
For many years, democracy represented an outstanding subject with a great influence on political philosophy. For example, during the 5th and the 6th centuries, those who were supporting democracy, had to confront many critics. One of the first writers who discussed the concept of democracy was Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher. Plato claimed that
Bibliography: 1. Rabb, Theodore K., and Ezra N. Suleiman. The Making and Unmaking of Democracy: Lessons from History and World Politics. New York: Routledge, 2003. Print. 2. Lakoff, Sanford A. Democracy: History, Theory, Practice. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1996. Print. 26/01/2011-08:35:02 3. Plato, Emma Woolerton, and Benjamin Jowett. The Trial and Death of Socrates. New York: Chartwell, 2010. Print. 4. Keane, John. The Life and Death of Democracy. London: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Print. 5. Crick, Bernard R. Democracy: a Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002. Print. 6. Dahl, Robert Alan. On Democracy. New Haven: Yale UP, 2000. Print. 7. Annas, Julia. Plato: a Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2003. Print. 8. Montesquieu, De l’esprit des lois,1, Garnier-Flammarion, Paris1979, OTHER SOURCES 1. Lect. Dr. Alexandra Ionașcu, University of Political Science Bucharest, Romania, Course materials, Cours no.6 9