Abstract This paper is a discussion of AthenianDemocracy under Pericles as made possible by the existence of slavery. The paper explains that the massive slave population in Ancient Greece during this time underpinned the bulk of Greek society and drove the economy that allowed this state to flourish.
From the Paper "The ascendancy of the Greek polis in the Ancient World culminated in Athens in the fifth century BC under the leadership of the great statesman Pericles. Never holding an office higher than that of general, Pericles nonetheless dominated the political landscape of Athens for more than forty years. Under his sure hand, Athens became emblematic of all that many in modern times believe to epitomize Classic Greek culture - a shining glamorous city boasting the acropolis, the Parthenon and countless other marvels of architecture - a paragon of participatory democracy."
Tags: pericles, democracy, polis, Ancient Greece, athens, atheniandemocracy, slavery
Abstract The paper examines the real meaning of Pericles' famous funeral oration during which he praised not only Athens' fallen heroes, but the democratic government of the city state. The paper explains that the Atheniandemocracy was what it claimed to be - a government of and by the people. Not only were all citizens given equal chances to participate in the chief organs of government, they were also allowed the opportunity to pass judgment on one another. The paper points out, however, that those in charge of this business were not free to act as they pleased. The paper shows how those who climbed to greater power, wealth, or influence than their fellow citizens were quickly suspected of subverting the entire system.
From the Paper "In his oration, Pericles compared the governmental system of Athens to that of its bitter rival, Sparta. Though obviously favoring Athenian forms, it is less clear what Pericles considered to lay at the core of Athenian superiority. Athens was a democracy, and Sparta an oligarchy, but precisely what was the Athenian democracy? Was Pericles saying that his city state was a pure democracy - ruled directly by its citizens - or was he saying that it was superior to Sparta, and other oligarchies, because it employed democratic principles along with other useful, even oligarchic, methods of government?"
Abstract Discusses the major differences between Atheniandemocracy and modern democracy. Differences include voting and citizenship rights, gender and background bias in the Athenian social and economic system, the type of representation that each society offered and the 'participation factor' in Athens.
From the Paper "There are several significant differences between modern constitutional democracies and the democracy of classical Athens. Even though the classical Athenian democracy was a major step forward in political thought, at its height there were still many areas in which it was decidedly unlike any democracy existing today. These differences fall into three major categories: differences in who could vote, in the type of representation, and in the overall participation factor.
One major and clearly recognizable difference is that in the Athenian democracy there was only a certain selected element of the population that was allowed to vote. This difference in voting behavior stems from the fact that the Athenian social and economic system was supportive of the suppression of groups of people according to gender and background in ways that are not acceptable in today's western cultures.
For example, women were not given full rights of citizenship. They were also socially and economically kept in a subservient role to men. Women's function was seen as primarily that of propagation and managing a household. Women were not allowed access to the marketplace of ideas that was so important to the Athenians.
These conditions set up an interactive cycle between the social and political institutions; since women were regarded as inferior and not deserving of full citizenship, they were not allowed to vote. However, without the ability to vote, it was very unlikely that any of these restrictions would be modified or lifted. The role of women in Greek society was too firmly entrenched to be easily changed."
Tags: Difference, rights, social, economic, society
Abstract This paper compares Thucydides' and Xenophon's views of Atheniandemocracy. It discusses the strong differing views of each historian. It compares the pattern of ideas in both texts. The author explores the impact of democracy on Athenian life.
From the Paper "This research examines texts by Thucydides and Xenophon with a view toward determining whether and to what extent each presents democracy as a positive or negative feature of Athens. The research will compare texts by each commentator that deal with roughly ..."
Abstract The writer shows that even though the classical Atheniandemocracy was a major step forward in political thought, at its height there were still many areas in which it was decidedly unlike any democracy existing today. The paper divides these differences into three major categories: differences in who could vote, in the type of representation, and in the overall participation factor.
From the Paper "One major and clearly recognizable difference is that in the Athenian democracy there was only a certain selected element of the population that was allowed to vote. This difference in voting behavior stems from the fact that the Athenian social and economic system was supportive of the suppression of groups of people according to gender and background in ways that are not acceptable in today's western cultures."
Abstract This paper gives a brief history of Atheniandemocracy. The author discusses economic conditions leading up to the start of this form of government. Paper concludes with the replacement of democracy by another form of ruler ship.
From the Paper "By 700 BC Athens was an established city-state on the peninsula of Attica. Originally a monarchy with the king elected by the aristocracy, Athens came to be ruled by the wealthy aristocrats, the upper tier in Athenian society. These aristocrats became known as the Boule. A group of nine Archons were elected from the Boule. They made all the laws and were responsible for executed them. Draco was elected head Archon in 621 BC and is remembered for writing down all the existing verbal laws, known as the Draconian code."
Abstract This paper reviews the political system of Ancient Greece known as Atheniandemocracy. It looks at the functions of the two bodies that were assigned government functions - the Assembly and the Council. It compares these functions with those of contemporary functions - non-executive head of state; executive head of state, ministers and legislative body. The scope and development of the political system of democracy during this period is also analyzed.
From the Paper "Democracy comes from two Greek words, first a noun, demos; meaning ''people'' and second a verb, kratein, meaning ''to rule.'' However, the fundamental meaning of democracy is ''government by the people" or "rule by the ruled (Aristotle, 23).'' As a word it has its foundation from Greek, so one has to refer to ancient Greece in order to find its origin and basic meaning. The 5th century Athens of the city-state was the originator and leading practitioner of democracy. Hence for about 4,000 years men lived under the forms of government other than democratic. However, it all started in the mid of the 5th century before Christ in Athens. Therefore, democracy as a theory and actual system of government has existed for almost 2500 years, with changeable degrees of constancy between both theory and practice (Aristotle, 24)."
Abstract This paper discusses how the Atheniandemocracy was one of the models for the American democratic model. It looks at how in ancient Athens, democracy was truly representative, Athenians decisions were made by voting and how the meetings of the Assembly were frequent and accessible giving citizens the power to benefit by their self-rule. The paper contends that while the Atheniandemocracy might have served as the model for the American democratic model, in practice, America has fallen short of such a true democracy and that in the U.S., the government is considered an outside entity that is expected to pay for programs or to take on an independent existence separate from the
American citizenry itself.
From the Paper "In addition, many Americans believe that citizenship is mostly about the rights that are due to the individual. They do not necessarily see that there are any duties they are required to perform as citizens. The ancient democratic citizenship of Athens, on the other hand, did entail very real obligations and requirements. For example, one of the main oaths that citizens had to take on together with their Assembly duties included the promise to pass on to one's descendants a fatherland "increased in size and strength." This obviously meant that they combined social, military, financial and religious issues as citizen rulers of a democracy."
Abstract This paper describes Plato's criticisms of democracy, from the role of the forms in his metaphysical reasons for his dislike of Atheniandemocracy, to the concept of role allocation, which stemmed from this and the division of society into 3 classes of peoples - artisans, auxiliaries and philosopher kings. Plato's understanding of what democracy meant to him is examined in order to establish the parameters for the paper. Many examples and quotes are used throughout, which come from such sources as the Declaration of Independence. Representative democracy is also discussed as well as an alternative to Atheniandemocracy. Oligarchy, timocracy and aristocracy are also touched upon.
From the Paper "The first of Plato's criticisms of democracy concerns itself with what is commonly referred to as the concept of role allocation. Plato advanced the idea that the best society would be one where the society was divided into three classes; workers (Artisans), soldiers (Auxiliaries) and rulers (Guardians). He based this argument upon his notion of human nature that stated that "no two of us are born exactly alike and that we have different natural aptitudes that fit us for different jobs" . He advocated that the guardians were the wisest and most logical individuals in society and so were able to make informed, objective decisions (based on the theory of the forms)."
Abstract Athenians thought their democracy to be based on their unique characteristics of temperance and justice, the core of political virtue. The paper explains that by teaching and continually reinforcing this political virtue they could utilize everyone and confidently make the wisest decisions. It explains how this form of government forced the citizens to act for the common welfare so as to ensure their personal freedom. The Assembly, Council of 500, court system, and military appointments, all reflect these ideologies. Since everyone had political virtue, all were welcomed to participate and advance if they displayed the necessary abilities.
From the Paper "In order to fully understand Athenian democracy it is necessary to explore the Athenian tenets and ideologies that ultimately created this government. Athenians believed that: certain human qualities made democracy a more functional solution than other constitutional alternatives; there was a practice that best nurtured these qualities; democratic governments were more likely to make wise decisions than other forms of government; and one factor ensured that citizens would act for the common good. Athenians thought justice and temperance, the human qualities that rendered democracy more practical than other governments, embodied political virtue. The community nurtured this political virtue by teaching and continually reinforcing it in every day life. This established democracy made wise decisions because it believed that everyone had political virtue and so utilized everyone when legislating. Athenians would act for the common good solely to ensure that they retained their personal freedom. Consequently, the Athenian democracy reflected their ideologies in its institutions and practices, namely in the Assembly, the Council of 500, the court system, and the appointment of military generals."
Abstract The paper analyzes Pericles' funeral oration and how it stands as one of the most memorable rhetorical tributes to Athenian democratic ideals. The paper examines how Athens was an open system of government, and Pericles stated that such self-governance made its military superior to that of Athens' adversaries. The paper concludes that even though the ideal of Atheniandemocracy was not always as pure as the vision lauded by Pericles in his speech, the very presence of the ideal, and the idea that freedom is worth fighting for, was unique, and uniquely expressed in this leader's words.
From the Paper "Athenian government is thus equated with the Athenian people--with all of the Athenian people. Most movingly, perhaps, in the final part of his speech, Pericles turns to the fathers and mothers who have given up sons and spouses to the war. He states that the parents who are still young should have more children, children who will be able to enjoy the democracy that their older siblings fought and died for, and he tells the women to be strong too, in the face of the sorrows that they and their city are enduring over the course of the war."
Abstract This paper looks at the current Greek political and democratic system and compares these institutions to those of Ancient Greece. The paper analyzes the judicial, parliamentary and democratic system. The influence of the ancient politicians and leaders such as Aristotle and Plato is examined.
From the Paper "The Framers of the Constitution of the United States were greatly, and correctly so, influenced by the Greeks of Ancient Athens. Many of the ideas and thoughts that of the Ancient Athenians were used as a model for their Classical Democracy as an outline for our government today in the United States. Despite the similarities of these two countries political systems the differences are astonishing. When the Athenians wanted a so-called democracy they did not intend it to be a Representative Democracy, as we have today, but a direct democracy as they had. Despite Athens? having thought of themselves as the founders of a pure democracy there is an error in their reasoning. In our everyday society, we forget how much we should appreciate our type of Democracy and not the Classical Democracy as the Ancient Athenians had."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that although the Internet does offer a great deal for rich countries, there are many other poor nations that are left out of this revolution. The writer points out that while countries such as the United States get great benefits, other countries such as Africa get nothing. The writer further notes that there are fast and slow lane countries, and globalization, like capitalism, is designed only to profit the faster moving countries. The writer concludes that what the Internet promises is something for the rich majority, along with an increase in world poverty.
From the Paper "The idea that the Internet promises a new age of democracy is true and false. Democracy means the rule of the majority. It is very true that the Internet offers a great deal for the rich nations of the world. The Internet is a growing network of computer networks. Out of the Internet has developed a new culture and a revolution in goods and services. The problem is that much of the world is left out of that culture and revolution."
This is an argument for the libertarian conception of self-ownership as the foundation for democracy, as opposed to other values such as republican non-domination and deliberative democracy, with treatment of empirical work on the phenomenon of voter igno
Abstract This paper looks at the notion of western democracy, and how by its very definition, impinges on our everyday lives. The author defines democracy, and looks at what democracy was intended to be, and how, as government expanded, and its influence expanded that democracy has had the opposite affect, and is not limiting our freedoms. The author also suggest ways in which we can regain the benefits that democracy was designed to provide.
From the Paper "Indeed, if we did otherwise, we would be treating people not as full members of the community among equals, but as sheep unto a shepherd, or a child unto a parent. While such relationships are certainly appropriate between the incompetent and the competent, they can hardly be countenanced for the competent, who are entitled to their own private sphere in which they can determine the meaning of their experiences and define their own ends. After all, since people are different, and even individuals change through time, no one can better know his own conception of the good and his unique set of ends better than the individual himself. The state, far removed from the individual, is in no position to make that determination, and therefore, must be neutral to conceptions of the good. The state's disallowing one to choose for himself the sort of life he leads is, in fact, a principal criterion by which we can judge its goodness."
Tags: deliberative, democracy, domination, libertarianism, non, republican, republicanism
A study on democracy in Iraq, looking at how much progress the country has made towards establishing democracy, the quality of its democracy and how well its institutions are functioning.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 5 sources, 2006, $ 71.95
Abstract This paper takes three of the fourteen topics provided on the Democratic Audit web site and apply them to a study of democracy in Iran. Specifically, the paper assesses the country's progress towards democracy, the quality of its democracy, and the functioning of its institutions - all by using the following three topics as a "measuring stick". These topics are a) civil and political rights, b) economic and social rights, and c) the extent of participation in the political process by various Iranian citizens.
