The Limitations Of Democracy

Approximately 2500 years ago a series of changes and reformations in political thought led to the creation of the ancient Athenian democracy. Through the changes implemented by Solon and Cleisthenes during the Golden Age of Greece, democracy was born in Athens. Although it was somewhat impractical, exclusionist, and only open to a very small percentage of the total Athenian population, its impact is still felt today. Athenian democracy is widely recognized as the model from which all other forms of democratic rule has evolved from. Through the principles handed down from that Athenian democracy, ancient Greek culture remains a prominent presence in contemporary life, particularly in regard to its democratic policies.

One mark Greece had on future societies in the West can be seen in the advancement of political order, namely democracy, which still prevails in not only the United States but across the globe. Democracy began development when Cleisthenes transformed Athens into a democratic state and took steps to protect the system of government from tyranny.1 The first period of Rome would later take from these concepts and became marked by the representative way in which they chose to govern themselves—as a republic.2

Democracy, the form of government in which there is a rule by the people, is said to have originated and thrived in the classical period of Athens, from 500-350 B.C.. Democracy inherently gave all that were considered citizens power to participate in politics in theory. That being said, it is highly debated as to how much power the people, also known as the demos, exercised in this democracy. Many practices and informal institutions can be said to have limited the power of the demos. The democracy in Athens can be proven to have been a democracy in theory yet not in practice, as can be proven through a variety of primary sources recounting Athenian political institutions and practices. Such primary sources that demonstrate this include Herodotus’

Today, much of the world’s governments have converted to democracies. In the Ancient World, there was only one truly notable example of a democratic society: The City-State of Athens. This is actually the birthplace of democracy, where instead of the rich or powerful ruling, it was the citizens of the city-state that held the power. This advanced way of government was so effective and well structured, it even laid the foundations for the development of our own democracy, right here in the United States, over 2,000 years in the future. Prior to Athens’s collapse during the Peloponnesian War, it truly had an efficient and very organized system of government.

Democracy, the form of government in which there is a rule by the people, is said to have originated and thrived in the classical period of Athens, from 500-350 B.C.. Democracy inherently gave all that were considered citizens power to participate in politics. That being said, it is highly debated as to how much power the people, also known as the demos, exercised in this democracy. Many practices and informal institutions can be said to have limited the power of the demos. The democracy in Athens could be said to have been a democracy in theory yet not in practice, as can be proven through a variety of primary sources recounting Athenian political institutions and practices. Such primary sources that can demonstrate this include Herodotus’ History, Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War, and Demosthenes’ Oration Against Eubulides.

How has democracy changed since athens golden age? When you think of American democracy you first have to think of athenian democracy because they were quite similar in many ways for example. Both americans and athenians believed that a government should be fair and ran by not just one person or leader but that citizens should have a say in what happens. Another thing similar to american and athenian democracy was that speeches or oration was an important way for people to gain popularity and to also to inspire,persuade, or entertain people, to be a part of a government public speaking is essential it helps people better understand what someone wants to do and it will persuade people either in a good or a bad way so in both american and athenian

Ancient Athens (800 B.C. - 300 B.C.) is not a democracy. A democracy is a government controlled by the population, whereas the Athenian government was being controlled by only male citizens. According to Doc D, the ancient Athens were in fact an oligarchy, a government ruled by male citizens. The majority of the population does not vote in the Athenian politics.

During the Golden Age of Athens, which was from 499 BC to 400 BC, the people of Athens relished in the freedoms of a democracy. It was a time of peace and people speaking their minds without being punished. Although most people were content, several people doubted it at any sign of weakness. Yet, Athenians still had a fairly good relationship with democracy during the Golden Age.

Athens and Sparta were two powerful city-states, different from each other where Athenian democracy focused on economic advancement, while Sparta oligarchy focused on military force. Democracy is a system of government where citizens have the right to vote, whereas oligarchy is a system of government where only a group of people is in control and only their opinion or decision that were taken into consideration. Leading to the thesis statement that people are better served by Athenian democracy than the Spartan oligarchy, supported in three evidence points. Firstly, Athenian democracy allowed citizens participation in government that gave them freedom to vote and take part in legislation. Secondly, the Athenian government provided Athenian men better education, by being taught how to read and write to reach their academic advancement. Lastly, the Athenian democracy’s contribution to Athens military advancement that protected its citizens.

The Constitution was written to ensure that the division of power between the government and the states. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay penned the constitution, and bore in mind that the establishment of a new government separate from England, needed to prevent a, “majority rule” and possible tyranny. Therefore, it was agreed that in order to separate the powers of government, that the responsibilities would be divided among three separate branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial, were established in an effort to institute a checks and balances system into place that, would distribute power. Thereby preventing any form of tyrannical rule. In addition, another aim of our constitution is to prevent, as mentioned above, majority rule. Majority rule can be seen as a real threat, as it too can develop into a tyranny, and infringe upon individual rights. This is what is referred to as the, “paradox of democracy’ (POLS210). The checks and balances which not only acts as a prevention of one government branch from having

6th century BCE Athens saw a major power shift, transitioning from an elected magistrate to a tyranny. This shift was at first resisted, but eventually embraced by the Athenian people. It would be the Tyranny of Peisistratus that would become known as a golden age for Athens. His rise to power was difficult taking a multiple attempts before it finally took hold.

A year after their thrashing of Athens in 404 BC, the Spartans permitted the Athenians to supplant the legislature of the Thirty Tyrants with another popular government. The oppression had been a loathsome and ridiculous disappointment, and even the Spartans recognized that a direct type of majority rule government would be best.

The United States has an unstable democratic standing. What has happened in the United State shows the US not fully democratic. Issues that the US had been unfair treatment of people who aren’t white, voting rights not being given, and relocation towards a certain race, which has done nothing wrong. People also faced issues that couldn’t be avoided with rights. The United States is not democratic as everyone thinks. Equality and voting rights are something for all and within our amendment. Imprisonment or relocation of a race that has done nothing wrong. Americans also were faced the government for something that many didn’t wish for. The US has to change to be a better place for all.

The first example of the relationship between the Athenians and their democracy during the golden age was the diversity of political views that the Athenians followed. Too start in document 3 written by Isocrates an Athenian political statesman, orator, and writer and made in the year 346 BCE and the point they are trying to get across is that back then they did not have a political system/government which in turn made the people do whatever they wanted which was bad. Then in document 4 written by Aeschines an Athenian political statesmen, orator, and writer, and made in the year 330 BCE. The author's point of view from this document is that how the three forms of government, autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy work and the principles of them are. Also in document 5 written by Thucydides an Athenian warrior, statesmen, and historian wrote in the year 410 BCE, what the author is trying to say it all the reason why democracies are good and the outcomes of it. Finally, in document 9 written by Aristotle in Aristotle’s Politics published in the year 326 BCE this document is about the author's hatred towards tyranny.

During elections in countries with corrupt governments, for example, it has to be decided whether the guarantee of every individual’s right to vote or who wins is more important. (Wong, Lecture, October 24) Moreover, deep divides continue to exist and separate groups in democratic countries by race, religion, language, and class, resulting in tension and, in some cases, oppression. Thus democracy, despite its emphasis on liberty, equality and plurality, can still be problematic.