Basic ideas of ancient Greek democracy and their relevance for modern conceptions of democracy

Dossier / Travail , 2008 , 9 Pages

Politique - Théorie politique et Histoire des idées politiques

The fascination that springs from the first democratic polity of history, the ancient polis of
Attica, remains undaunted right up to now and the examination of this alluring topic will
certainly occupy future scientists as well. The main questions are: How – and most of all why
– did democracy develop at this time and at this place? How was this political system
organised? And what lessons can we draw from the rise and fall of the Athenian democracy?
In the following, I am going to touch some of these issues while analysing what the basic
ideas of Athenian democracy looked like, comparing the ancient with the modern
understanding and investigating to what extent they might be relevant to current theories of
democracy. Thus, I am going to concentrate more on the abstract, intellectual foundations of
the political system than on concrete manifestations like institutions and procedures. From
my point of view, this approach appears to be more advantageous anyway because the formal
frame could only be applied much harder to modern states than general ideas might be.
As the basic ideas which led to the genesis and shaped the form of democracy may be
considered the power of the people (commonly known as the rule of the people but I am
going to show why this is not the appropriate translation), equality, liberty and the rule of
law. After having examined the nature and consequences of these concepts, I am going to
summarise my results.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The power of the people
  • Equality
  • Liberty
• The rule of law
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the basic ideas of ancient Greek democracy and their relevance for modern conceptions of democracy. It focuses on the intellectual foundations of the political system, particularly the concepts of the power of the people, equality, liberty, and the rule of law.

• The nature and meaning of popular sovereignty in ancient Athens and its comparison to modern conceptions
• The concept of "equality of the unequal" in ancient Athenian democracy and its distinction from modern ideas of equality
• The importance of the rule of law in both ancient and modern democracies
• The role of liberty in democratic thought and practice
• The relevance of ancient Greek democratic ideas for contemporary democratic theory and practice

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

The essay begins by introducing the enduring fascination with ancient Athenian democracy and the key questions surrounding its development and legacy. It highlights the focus on the abstract, intellectual foundations of the political system rather than concrete institutions and procedures.

The power of the people

This chapter explores the concept of "popular sovereignty" in ancient Athens, arguing that the term "rule of the people" is inaccurate. It highlights the Athenian ideal of self-governance, where the people are the sole political authority. The chapter also contrasts this with modern conceptions of democracy, which typically involve representation and the division of powers.

Equality

This chapter examines the Athenian concept of "equality of the unequal," where political rights were extended to all citizens regardless of wealth or social status. It contrasts this with the elitist views of Plato and Aristotle and highlights the importance of broad citizen participation in Athenian democracy. The chapter also discusses the evolution of equality in modern democracies, emphasizing the shift from political equality to social and economic concerns.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this essay include: ancient Greek democracy, popular sovereignty, equality, liberty, the rule of law, direct democracy, representative democracy, Athenian democracy, modern conceptions of democracy, political theory, political philosophy.

• Université: University of Applied Sciences Bremen
• Cours: Democracy: Theory and Practice
• Auteur: Lisa Wegener (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2008
• Pages: 9
• N° de catalogue: V116688
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640189274
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640189526
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Basic, Greek, Democracy, Theory, Practice, Athens, ancient, concept, idea