Chapter 2: The Democratic Ideal, part I

1. Chapter 2: The Democratic Ideal, part I • Original meaning of “democracy” • Republican tradition – Aristotle Polybius • Rise, decline of democratic ideal

2. Original meaning • “Democracy” comes from two Greek words: • demos = “people” or “common people” • kratein = “to rule” • Demoskratia = “rule or government by the common people” • Uneducated, unsophisticated, poor • Numerical majority • Majority rule

3. Ancient Greece • Majority mainly demos • Democracy = class rule • rule by one class, demos, in own interest • often in opposition to interests of other classes, including aristoi = “the best” • Aristocracy = “rule by those few who are best qualified to govern” • Greek democracy operated in self-governing city-state, polis

4. Early Greek Democracy • Tension between aristocrats and democrats • Aristocrats = only well-established citizens with substantial property and ties to noble families fit to rule • Democrats (e.g., Pericles) = most citizens capable of governing • Democratic • Direct vote by citizens (paid) to take part in assembly • Paid jury duty • Random selection of office holders • Undemocratic • Restricted citizenship = adult, free, males (Athens: 1/10 citizens) • right to vote, hold public office denied to women, resident aliens, and slaves • No freedom of speech, press, and assembly

5. Socrates (469-399 B.C.E.) • Teacher/friend of Plato • Questioned popularly held religious and political views • Accused of religious impiety and corrupting morals of youth • Critical of democracy • Truth cannot be decided by majority vote • First martyr to cause of free thought and free speech • Executed in 399 B.C.E.

6. Plato (427-347 B.C.E.) • The Republic criticizes democracy • Ideal state ruled by wise “philosopher-king” • Democracy dangerously unstable • Power in hands of envious and ignorant people • Do not use political power for common good • Pursue private interest and plunder others better off • Susceptible to demagogues • Civil war, anarchy, disorder • Power given to despot  tyranny

7. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) • Student of Plato • More favorable view of democracy • Factious, unstable, short-lived • 6-part classification scheme • Politics • “rule by many” = polity  aims at promoting public good, not individual or class interests, of one faction or another

8. Aristotle’s Polity • Elements of rule by few with rule by many • Each keeps eye on other; neither class can pursue interest at expense of common good • Depend on distribution of wealth • Rare but fortunate circumstances, many not rich or poor • Moderate and sufficient property • “Middle class” rule prudently in common interest • Common good own good; work to maintain moderation, peace, stability • Destroyed by rise of Hellenic Empire under Alexander the Great • Mixed constitution or republic (from Latin res publica, meaning “the public thing” or “the public business”) picked up, developed by later thinkers

9. Republic and Mixed Government • Polybius, in Histories, argues Roman Republic’s success due to mixed government • Government by different classes and interests • None held all power • Republic mixed or balanced sets of interests; divided power • People  Assemblies • Aristocrats  Senate • Executive Consuls  Put policies into effect • Competition/compromise  approximation to public good • Republic = form of popular government • Not democracy (self-interested rule of common people promoted vice) • Republic promoted virtue = ability to rise above personal/class interest to place good of whole above one’s own • Requires active citizens eager to exercise liberty wary of person/group who wishes to seize power • Mixed government encourages popular participation while making it difficult for any person/group to threaten liberty and common good

10. Democracy’s Long Sleep • Demise of Roman Republic • Triumph of Caesars • Despotic militarily expansionist empire • Republican ideal revived in Northern Italian city-states during Renaissance (1,500 years later) • Democratic ideal revived (1,900 years later) • Rise of Christianity • Worldly matters less important than salvation • Obey those in power and seek no power yourself • Middle Ages and feudalism (highly stratified society)

11. Discussion Questions • Why were Plato and Aristotle convinced democracy was a bad form of government? Do you find their arguments persuasive? Explain. • What have Machiavelli and other political theorists meant by the term republic? How, if at all, is a republic different from a democracy? • Is the United States best described as a democracy, a republic, or a democratic republic? Explain and defend your position.