Athenian democracy

The Athenian democracy was a democratic government in the city-state Athens and its surrounding lands in Attica, Greece; usually considered to have lasted from the late-6th to the late-4th century BC. During the 5th century BC, the population of Athens may well have comprised some 300,000 people. Athens was the very first democracy, and of one of the most important in ancient times; the word "democracy" (from demos—"the people" and kratia—"power") was invented by Athenians in order to define their system of government.

Related Topics:
Democratic - City-state - Athens - Attica - Greece - 6th - 4th century BC - 5th century BC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Athenian democracy was based on selection of officials by lot, and decisions in other cases by majority rule. The assembly of all male citizens in Athens voted on decisions directly (compare direct democracy). Elected officials did not determine decisions — giving decision-making power to elected officials was considered by the ancients to take away the power of the people, effectively making the state an oligarchy. Democracy had (and for some people still has) the meaning of equality in decisions and of elections in decisions, not the election of persons charged to decide (see representative democracy). Few checks on or limits to the power of the assembly existed, with the notable exception of the Graphe paranomon (also voted on by the assembly), which made it illegal to pass a law that was contrary to another.

Related Topics:
Lot - Majority rule - Direct democracy - Oligarchy - Representative democracy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pejoratively, opponents of this early democracy called the system ochlocracy (from ochlos—"the mob"). Contemporary opponents of majoritarianism (arguably the principle behind Athenian democracy) call it an illiberal regime (in contrast to liberal democracy) that allegedly leads to anomie, balkanization and xenophobia. Proponents (especially of majoritarianism) deny these accusations, and argue that any faults in Athenian democracy were due to the fact that the franchise was quite limited (only male citizens could vote - women, slaves and non-citizens were excluded). Despite this limited franchise, Athenian democracy was certainly the first - and perhaps the best - example of a working direct democracy.

Related Topics:
Ochlocracy - Majoritarianism - Liberal democracy - Anomie - Balkanization - Xenophobia - Direct democracy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~