Democracy Ancient and ModernDemocracy Ancient and ModernFrom Classical Athens to From Classical Athens to

Twenty-First Century AmericaTwenty-First Century America

http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/cchampion/Maxwell123Athens.ppthttp://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/cchampion/Maxwell123Athens.ppt

Plan of LecturePlan of Lecture Ancient Greek Democracy: Typologies and RealitiesAncient Greek Democracy: Typologies and Realities

Synopsis of Wood ReadingSynopsis of Wood Reading ““Arithmetical” and “Geometric” Political EqualityArithmetical” and “Geometric” Political Equality Athens as Radical, “Arithmetical” Democracy?Athens as Radical, “Arithmetical” Democracy?

““Democracy” in Western Political ThoughtDemocracy” in Western Political Thought Athenian DissidentsAthenian Dissidents The The FederalistFederalist

The “Alienation” of Democracy (Wood)The “Alienation” of Democracy (Wood) Size and Democracy (Dahl and Tufte)Size and Democracy (Dahl and Tufte) From Participation to Representation (Alexander From Participation to Representation (Alexander

Hamilton)Hamilton) Lessons from Ancient AthensLessons from Ancient Athens

I: Ancient Greek DemocracyI: Ancient Greek Democracy

Typologies and RealitiesTypologies and Realities

Synopsis of WoodSynopsis of Wood ““The Glorious Revolution established the enduring qualities of The Glorious Revolution established the enduring qualities of

democracy—tolerance, respect for the law, for the impartial democracy—tolerance, respect for the law, for the impartial administration of justice.” (Margaret Thatcher, 1988)administration of justice.” (Margaret Thatcher, 1988)

““It is a democracy when the free [and poor] are sovereign and an It is a democracy when the free [and poor] are sovereign and an oligarchy [the rule of the few] when the rich are, but it comes about oligarchy [the rule of the few] when the rich are, but it comes about that the sovereign class in a democracy is numerous and that in an that the sovereign class in a democracy is numerous and that in an oligarchy small because there are many [poor] men of free birth and oligarchy small because there are many [poor] men of free birth and few rich.” (Aristotle, few rich.” (Aristotle, PoliticsPolitics 1290a) 1290a)

DDēmokratiaēmokratia = “rule of the = “rule of the dēmosdēmos (people).” (people).” ““[T]he progress of modern democracy has been far from [T]he progress of modern democracy has been far from

unambiguous; for as political rights have become less exclusive, they unambiguous; for as political rights have become less exclusive, they have also lost much of their power; and the word democracy itself has have also lost much of their power; and the word democracy itself has been domesticated and diluted, emptied of its social content, its been domesticated and diluted, emptied of its social content, its reference to the distribution of class power.” (Wood: 60-61)reference to the distribution of class power.” (Wood: 60-61)

As a political conception, “democracy” has been “alienated” from its As a political conception, “democracy” has been “alienated” from its original meaning (rule of “laboring, base, and mechanic classes”; that original meaning (rule of “laboring, base, and mechanic classes”; that is, the poor) to stand for liberal values: rule of law, constitutionalism, is, the poor) to stand for liberal values: rule of law, constitutionalism, civil liberties, representative government, open markets.civil liberties, representative government, open markets.

Ancient Greek Ideas on EqualityAncient Greek Ideas on Equality

Numbers in Equations represent relative degree of political power and Numbers in Equations represent relative degree of political power and influence; numbers in parentheses represent degree of wealth and influence; numbers in parentheses represent degree of wealth and property in relation to the first element:property in relation to the first element:

Arithmetical: 1+1(2)+1(4)=Political Equality (Justice)Arithmetical: 1+1(2)+1(4)=Political Equality (Justice) Geometrical: 1+2(2)+4(4)=Political Equality (Justice)Geometrical: 1+2(2)+4(4)=Political Equality (Justice) ““[T]he popular principle of justice is to have equality according to [T]he popular principle of justice is to have equality according to

number, not worth, and if this is the principle of justice prevailing, the number, not worth, and if this is the principle of justice prevailing, the multitude must of necessity be sovereign and the decision of the multitude must of necessity be sovereign and the decision of the majority must be final and must constitute justice, for they say that majority must be final and must constitute justice, for they say that each of the citizens ought to have an equal share; so that it results that each of the citizens ought to have an equal share; so that it results that in democracies the poor are more powerful than the rich, because in democracies the poor are more powerful than the rich, because there are more of them and whatever is decided by the majority is there are more of them and whatever is decided by the majority is sovereign. This then is one mark of liberty which all democrats set sovereign. This then is one mark of liberty which all democrats set down as a principle of the constitution.” (Aristotle, down as a principle of the constitution.” (Aristotle, PoliticsPolitics 6.1317b) 6.1317b)

““Equality itself is unjust” (On Greek-style egalitarianism, which does Equality itself is unjust” (On Greek-style egalitarianism, which does not consider sufficiently socio-economic gradations and aristocratic not consider sufficiently socio-economic gradations and aristocratic ancestral privilege) ~ Cicero, ancestral privilege) ~ Cicero, RepublicRepublic, 1.27.43, 1.27.43

The Case of Athens:The Case of Athens:Rule of the Rule of the DDēmosēmos

Participatory Democracy: Sovereign Rule of Participatory Democracy: Sovereign Rule of Citizen-AssemblyCitizen-Assembly ((Aristotle, Aristotle, PoliticsPolitics 1292a-1293a) 1292a-1293a) Assembly examines all public officials (Assembly examines all public officials (dokimasiaidokimasiai

and and euthynaieuthynai)) Jury Courts (Jury Courts (dikasteriaidikasteriai) are final arbiter, ) are final arbiter,

composed of citizens chosen by lot; paid by state composed of citizens chosen by lot; paid by state for servicefor service

Payment for attendance at Assembly (4Payment for attendance at Assembly (4thth- - Century Century B.C.E.B.C.E.))

Public Liturgies and Public Liturgies and AntidosisAntidosis OstracismOstracism

DDēmosēmos (People) as Jury (People) as Jury

OstracismOstracism

Elitist Elements at AthensElitist Elements at Athens(or What Wood Left Out)(or What Wood Left Out)

A “Face-to-Face” Democracy?A “Face-to-Face” Democracy? Total Population in late 5Total Population in late 5thth-century (@350,000)-century (@350,000) @60,000 citizens (adult males); meeting place of Assembly (Pnyx) accommodated @60,000 citizens (adult males); meeting place of Assembly (Pnyx) accommodated

about 6,000about 6,000 Women, Resident Aliens, Slaves ExcludedWomen, Resident Aliens, Slaves Excluded

Election of Highest MagistraciesElection of Highest Magistracies ““The characteristics of democracy are as follows...that the appointment to all offices, The characteristics of democracy are as follows...that the appointment to all offices,

or to all but those that require special experience and skill, should be made by lot.” or to all but those that require special experience and skill, should be made by lot.” (Aristotle, (Aristotle, PoliticsPolitics 6.1317b) 6.1317b)

Pledge to Maintain Socio-Economic Status QuoPledge to Maintain Socio-Economic Status Quo ““As soon as the Archon enters upon his office, he proclaims through the public As soon as the Archon enters upon his office, he proclaims through the public

herald that whatever a person possessed before he entered upon his Archonship he herald that whatever a person possessed before he entered upon his Archonship he will have and possess until the end of his term.” (Aristotle, will have and possess until the end of his term.” (Aristotle, Constitution of the Constitution of the AtheniansAthenians 56.2) 56.2)

““Speakers” of the PeopleSpeakers” of the People Few in number at any given timeFew in number at any given time Drawn from socio-economic eliteDrawn from socio-economic elite Have had the best education in the art of rhetoric (persuasion and public oratory)Have had the best education in the art of rhetoric (persuasion and public oratory) Thought to be less susceptible to corruption and briberyThought to be less susceptible to corruption and bribery

Elitist Political TheoryElitist Political TheoryRobert Michels and the “Iron Law of Oligarchy”Robert Michels and the “Iron Law of Oligarchy”

((Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern DemocraciesModern Democracies))

Obstacles to Direct Popular GovernmentObstacles to Direct Popular Government Incompetence of the MassesIncompetence of the Masses Lack of Time which would be required for Lack of Time which would be required for

Direct GovernmentDirect Government Indispensability of Elite LeadersIndispensability of Elite Leaders

Economic SuperiorityEconomic Superiority Historical SuperiorityHistorical Superiority Intellectual SuperiorityIntellectual Superiority

Periclean AthensPericlean Athens Pericles, dominates Athenian political life from ca. Pericles, dominates Athenian political life from ca.

445-430 445-430 B.C.E.B.C.E. (repeatedly elected general) (repeatedly elected general) ““It was he who led them, rather than they who led It was he who led them, rather than they who led

him, and, since he never sought power from any him, and, since he never sought power from any wrong motive, he was under no necessity of wrong motive, he was under no necessity of flattering them: in fact he was so highly respected flattering them: in fact he was so highly respected that he was able to speak angrily to them and to that he was able to speak angrily to them and to contradict them. Certainly when he saw that they contradict them. Certainly when he saw that they were going too far in a mood of over-confidence, were going too far in a mood of over-confidence, he would bring back to them a sense of their he would bring back to them a sense of their dangers; and when they were discouraged for no dangers; and when they were discouraged for no good reason he would restore their confidence. So, good reason he would restore their confidence. So, in what was nominally a democracy, power was in what was nominally a democracy, power was really in the hands of the first citizen.” really in the hands of the first citizen.” (Thucydides, (Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian WarHistory of the Peloponnesian War 2.65) 2.65)

Portrait Bust of PericlesPortrait Bust of Pericles

One Last Omission of Wood on Athens:One Last Omission of Wood on Athens:Symbiosis of Democracy and ImperialismSymbiosis of Democracy and Imperialism

The Athenian Naval EmpireThe Athenian Naval Empire Importance of Rowers in Fleet to Maintenance of Importance of Rowers in Fleet to Maintenance of

EmpireEmpire Rowers come from Lowest Socio-Economic Class Rowers come from Lowest Socio-Economic Class

in Athens (in Athens (ThetesThetes)) ThetesThetes Gain Political Power with Growth of Gain Political Power with Growth of

EmpireEmpire Other Greek States Pay Annual Tribute to AthensOther Greek States Pay Annual Tribute to Athens Imperial Revenue Finances Experiment in Imperial Revenue Finances Experiment in

Democracy (payment for participation) and Public Democracy (payment for participation) and Public Works Projects in Athens (employment for poor Works Projects in Athens (employment for poor Athenian citizens)Athenian citizens)

Parthenon: Symbol of Periclean Democracy

II: Democracy in Western II: Democracy in Western Political ThoughtPolitical Thought

A Uniformly “Bad Press”A Uniformly “Bad Press”

Negative AssessmentsNegative Assessments

Western Political Thinkers, from Plato to Western Political Thinkers, from Plato to Federalists, condemn Athenian DemocracyFederalists, condemn Athenian Democracy

Democracy=The Rule of the MobDemocracy=The Rule of the Mob Democracy=Threat to Social Hierarchies; Democracy=Threat to Social Hierarchies;

Economic and Political Leveling; Economic and Political Leveling; Demagogues; Threats to PropertyDemagogues; Threats to Property

Western Political Thinkers Respond to the Western Political Thinkers Respond to the “Arithmetical” Typology of Democracy; not “Arithmetical” Typology of Democracy; not Historical Realities of Classical AthensHistorical Realities of Classical Athens

Some Views on Some Views on DDēmokratiaēmokratia

““Nothing is more foolish and violent than a useless Nothing is more foolish and violent than a useless mob; for men fleeing the insolence of a tyrant to fall mob; for men fleeing the insolence of a tyrant to fall victim to the insolence of the unguided populace is by victim to the insolence of the unguided populace is by no means to be tolerated. Whatever the one does, he no means to be tolerated. Whatever the one does, he does with knowledge, but for the other knowledge is does with knowledge, but for the other knowledge is impossible; how can they have knowledge who have impossible; how can they have knowledge who have not learned or seen for themselves what is best, but not learned or seen for themselves what is best, but always rush headlong and drive blindly onward, like always rush headlong and drive blindly onward, like a river in flood?”a river in flood?”

Herodotus, Herodotus, HistoriesHistories, 3.81, 3.81The Persian Nobleman MegabyzusThe Persian Nobleman Megabyzus

Some Views on Some Views on DDēmokratiaēmokratia

““[T]hey everywhere assign more to the worst [T]hey everywhere assign more to the worst persons, to the poor, and to the popular types than persons, to the poor, and to the popular types than to the good men: in this very point they will be to the good men: in this very point they will be found manifestly preserving their democracy. For found manifestly preserving their democracy. For the poor, the popular, and the base, inasmuch as the poor, the popular, and the base, inasmuch as they are well off and the likes of them are they are well off and the likes of them are numerous, will increase the democracy; but if the numerous, will increase the democracy; but if the wealthy, good men are well off, the men of the wealthy, good men are well off, the men of the people create a strong opposition to themselves. people create a strong opposition to themselves. And everywhere on earth the best element is And everywhere on earth the best element is opposed to democracy.”opposed to democracy.” Pseudo-Xenophon (“Old Oligarch”) Pseudo-Xenophon (“Old Oligarch”)

Some Views on Some Views on DDēmokratiaēmokratia

““Are not popular assemblies frequently Are not popular assemblies frequently subject to the impulses of rage, resentment, subject to the impulses of rage, resentment, jealousy, avarice, and of other irregular and jealousy, avarice, and of other irregular and violent propensities? Is it not well known violent propensities? Is it not well known that their determinations are often that their determinations are often governed by a few individuals in whom they governed by a few individuals in whom they place confidence, and are, of course, liable place confidence, and are, of course, liable to be tinctured by the passions and views of to be tinctured by the passions and views of those individuals?”those individuals?” FederalistFederalist, number 6 , number 6

Some Views on Some Views on DDēmokratiaēmokratia

““Hence it is that such democracies have ever Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in theirs deaths.”as they have been violent in theirs deaths.” FederalistFederalist, number 10, number 10

Some Views on Some Views on DDēmokratiaēmokratia

““Had every citizen been a Socrates, every Had every citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.”mob.” FederalistFederalist, number 14 , number 14

III: The “Alienation” of III: The “Alienation” of DemocracyDemocracy

Redefinition and RehabilitationRedefinition and Rehabilitation

Dimensions of Democracy Dimensions of Democracy (Typologies, Not Historical Realities)(Typologies, Not Historical Realities)

(Dahl and Tufte)(Dahl and Tufte)

City-StateCity-State ““In order for citizens In order for citizens

fully to control the fully to control the decisions of the polity, decisions of the polity, they must participate they must participate directly in making directly in making those decisions.”those decisions.”

““In order to participate In order to participate directly in making directly in making decisions, the number decisions, the number of citizens must be very of citizens must be very small.”small.”

Nation-StateNation-State ““Only the nation-state Only the nation-state

has the capacity to has the capacity to respond fully to respond fully to collective preferences.”collective preferences.”

““Therefore the nation-Therefore the nation-state (but no smaller state (but no smaller units) should be units) should be completely completely autonomous.”autonomous.”

An Ancient Greek (Typological) ViewAn Ancient Greek (Typological) View

““A state (A state (polispolis) could not consist of ten men, ) could not consist of ten men, and one composed of 100,000 men would no and one composed of 100,000 men would no longer be a statelonger be a state ((polispolis).”).” Aristotle, Aristotle, Nicomachean EthicsNicomachean Ethics, 1170b , 1170b

Classical Athens @ 350,000 inhabitants Classical Athens @ 350,000 inhabitants

An Ideal Greek City-State (Hippodamus)An Ideal Greek City-State (Hippodamus)

Alexander Hamilton, “Notes for a Speech,” Alexander Hamilton, “Notes for a Speech,” New York Ratifying Convention, July 12, 1788New York Ratifying Convention, July 12, 1788

““[The American political system is] a [The American political system is] a representative democracyrepresentative democracy…“Democracy in …“Democracy in my sense, [is] where the whole power of the my sense, [is] where the whole power of the government [is] in the people, whether government [is] in the people, whether exercised by themselves, or by their exercised by themselves, or by their representatives chosen by them either representatives chosen by them either mediately or immediately and legally mediately or immediately and legally accountable to them.” accountable to them.”

Mutability and AppropriationMutability and Appropriationof the Political Conceptionof the Political Conception

““It is no less concern than it is important…that the larger the society, provided it lie within a It is no less concern than it is important…that the larger the society, provided it lie within a practical sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self-government.”practical sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self-government.”

FederalistFederalist no. 51 (February 8, 1788) no. 51 (February 8, 1788) ““People-Power” is to be Diffused, Buffered, Tamed (Wood)People-Power” is to be Diffused, Buffered, Tamed (Wood) Hostile Western Political Tradition, from Plato to Hamilton, a Response to a Negative Hostile Western Political Tradition, from Plato to Hamilton, a Response to a Negative

Typology of Democracy (Created by Elites), Typology of Democracy (Created by Elites), notnot to Historical Realities in Classical Athens to Historical Realities in Classical Athens President George W. Bush’s “National Security Strategy,” published 17 September 2002, President George W. Bush’s “National Security Strategy,” published 17 September 2002,

stated that the goal of American foreign policy is “to bring the hope of democracy, stated that the goal of American foreign policy is “to bring the hope of democracy, development, free markets, and free trade to every corner of the world.” development, free markets, and free trade to every corner of the world.”

At her confirmation hearing as Secretary of State-Designate before the Senate Foreign At her confirmation hearing as Secretary of State-Designate before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (January 18, 2005), Dr. Condolezza Rice spoke of “a fully democratic Relations Committee (January 18, 2005), Dr. Condolezza Rice spoke of “a fully democratic hemisphere, bound by common values and free trade.”hemisphere, bound by common values and free trade.”

Dr. Rice employed the words “democracy,” “democratic,” and “democratically” thirty-four Dr. Rice employed the words “democracy,” “democratic,” and “democratically” thirty-four times in her brief address. She never stated with any precision what the word is supposed to times in her brief address. She never stated with any precision what the word is supposed to meanmean

““The concept of democracy has now become wonderfully elastic, permitting liberals to confine The concept of democracy has now become wonderfully elastic, permitting liberals to confine it to parliamentary representation and civil liberties, or perhaps even to the ‘alternation of it to parliamentary representation and civil liberties, or perhaps even to the ‘alternation of elites’…, leaving intact the gross disparities of class power, while neoliberals and elites’…, leaving intact the gross disparities of class power, while neoliberals and conservatives can identify it with the market. What all these flexible definitions of democracy conservatives can identify it with the market. What all these flexible definitions of democracy have in common is the eclipse of its literal meaning.” (Wood: 66)have in common is the eclipse of its literal meaning.” (Wood: 66)

Lessons from Classical AthensLessons from Classical Athens

Negative: Pluralism and Politics of Inclusion, not Negative: Pluralism and Politics of Inclusion, not Privilege and Politics of ExclusionPrivilege and Politics of Exclusion

““Office of the Citizen” is an Ideal to be Striven Office of the Citizen” is an Ideal to be Striven for, not a Reality to be Attainedfor, not a Reality to be Attained

Concern for Justice not only within National Concern for Justice not only within National Boundaries, but for Justice in terms of America as Boundaries, but for Justice in terms of America as “Citizen of the World”“Citizen of the World”

In other words, questioning whether American In other words, questioning whether American democratic privileges and lifestyles are in some democratic privileges and lifestyles are in some sense based on forms of exploitation and injustice sense based on forms of exploitation and injustice among other peoples of the world (as was the case among other peoples of the world (as was the case in democratic Athens) in democratic Athens)