To provide education and encouragement to help the idea of Democracy be alive, vibrant, relevant, and valued.
Please 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.
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 MoreWhile the long saga of dealing with hubris and the focus on seeking power and wealth demonstrates the allure of these dynamics, at long last (in part due to exhaustion?) Athens showed that it could lessen the influence of these cancers.
Read MoreThe movement to a new version of democracy was based on a partnership between the political clubs and some intellectually sophisticated aristocrats. The clubs provided the terror tactics to crush opposition and the aristocrats developed a new constitution.
Read MoreAs per the prior post, there was much credit to give to the Athenians and their new political structure. However, the growing power and confidence and consequent hubris, began to change the Delian League as Athens progressively asserted its will on its allies.
Read MoreAs in other city-states, in the 7th century BC Athens was controlled by a small group of wealthy families. Unsurprisingly, the social unrest in the Greek world discussed above occurred in Athens as well. A precipitating event took place in 632 BC. Cylon, a nobleman, attempted to establish a tyranny.
Read MoreGiven the changes outlined previously, the centralized aristocracy system came under significant pressure for changes in the structure of power and societal administration. As is often the case with those holding entrenched power, the aristocracy did not respond well.
Read MoreDemocracy is both a theory - a set of ideas and principles, and, a collective form of self-determination expressed as practices and structures.
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The graphic is a representation of citizenship and community as the foundation of Democracy. The small outer circles are either individuals or groups. These are connected to each other and to the center circle. The center circle is a community, large or small. The idea is that all are made stronger and more vital through these connections.
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