Why do Democracy's Beginnings Matter?
/It is important to understand why we should care about the early beginnings of Democracy.
Read MorePlease note - the posts are listed with the most recent first. If you want to start at the beginning of a numbered Series scroll down to find it.
Part 18 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Due to its weakened state as outlined in Part 17, Athens stayed away from military involvements during the last half of the 350s. At the same time, Philip of Macedonia continued to expand his reach and aspirations, conquering Thessaly and appearing ready to move into Central Greece and thus closer to Athens.
Read MorePart 14 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Having discussed the Council of 500, in the next several posts I will do same for the other key components of Athenian democracy in the fourth century: the Council of the Areopagus, the Magistrates, Defense, Finance, the Courts, and the Assembly.
Read MorePart 10 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Without question, the period of 460 - 430, discussed in the prior three Posts, were one of most important and influential periods in European history. Democracy had come of age, a powerful empire was created, and there was a golden age of cultural development and transformation. However, trouble had continued to brew….
Read MorePart 9 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Along with Athens reaching a new height of democratic governance, power, and wealth, an artistic and intellectual explosion occurred that remains one of the most storied periods in both European and world history.
Read MorePart 6 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As mentioned at the end of the prior post, the Funeral Oration of Pericles was the fullest explication of Democracy at the time and one of the most revered documents in the history of democracy.
Read MorePart 5 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/Pericles was a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy. And, importantly, his education went considerably beyond the traditional upper class education. Here again, we will see the power of ideas in effect even in a time of near constant warfare and an emphasis on military power.
Read MorePart 2 - The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/As we have seen repeatedly, movement forward in Democracy’s development was often triggered by discord and its’ frequent consequences of violence and chaos. This continued at the end of the reign of Peisistratus (see the appearance of Democracy, birth to infancy in Greece, Part 5).
Read MorePart 1 - The appearance and construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece
/In this second series, I continue outlining the early years of Democracy. The prior 5-part series, The appearance of Democracy - birth to infancy in Greece, covered the development of the seeds and some saplings (750 to 500 B.C.).
This section, The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece, moves forward in time to the growth of a fully formed tree. (500 to 322 B.C.).
Read MoreIntroduction - The appearance of Democracy - birth and infancy in Greece
/The following begins a series of posts outlining and discussing the initial development of Democracy.
Read MoreDemocracy, Contradiction, Power, and Ukraine
/Democracy is: durable but fragile; temporal but enduring, and; imperfect but uniquely oriented towards freedom.
Read MoreEssentials of Democracy
/Democracy is sustained by Citizenship and Citizenship is sustained by Democracy.
Read MoreCommon Ground
/Here, I am seeking here to trace back through constitutive layers to demonstrate core common terrain that we all share.
Read MoreNurture Democracy Begins
/The core reason to think about or care about Democracy is Citizenship – the idea that we are better off as individuals if we believe in and act with the interest of others in mind as well as ourselves.
Read More