The basic characteristics of Athenian democracy are that all citizens are rulers, participate in politics, and collectively control the supreme power of the country; Relatively equal within the citizens' collective; The law is supreme. However, the essence and limitation of Athenian democracy is that Athenian democracy maintains the dominant position and interests of slave owners and nobles, and its essence is based on slavery and is the democracy of a few people. Democracy in Athens is only a political system of "adult male citizens are masters of their own affairs". Democracy is out of reach for women, foreigners and slaves. It is different from modern democracy, which stifles and restricts the self-development ability of another part of society and has great limitations.
Chinese name
Ancient Greek democratic system
basic feature
All citizens are rulers.
supreme power
go into/enter politics
range
Adult male citizen
Representative figure
Solon, Cleisthenes, Perikles
quick
navigate by water/air
trait
system
withered
limit
abstract
The basic characteristics of Athenian democracy: all citizens are rulers, participate in politics and collectively control the supreme power of the country; Relatively equal within the citizens' collective; The law is supreme.
(2) Historical function: attaching importance to individual freedom and sense of responsibility of citizens; It has created the Greek national character of thirst for knowledge and willingness to explore, and the space created by its democratic atmosphere has made ancient Greece achieve brilliant achievements in many cultural fields. The theory and practice of Athenian democracy laid the initial foundation for the modern western political system.
(3) The essence and limitations of Athenian democracy: Athenian democracy maintains the dominant position and interests of slave owners and nobles, and its essence is based on slavery and is the democracy of a few people. Democracy in Athens is only a political system of "adult male citizens are masters of their own affairs". Democracy is out of reach for women, foreigners and slaves. It is different from modern democracy, which stifles and restricts the self-development ability of another part of society and has great limitations.
Athenian democracy is the product of small countries and few people, and only a few people can really enjoy it. Excessive direct democracy has gradually become a hidden danger of political corruption and social unrest. Coupled with the chaos within the city-state and the war between the city-States, the narrow city-state system is difficult to match the rapidly developing political economy, and the city-state democracy inevitably declines. In 338 BC, Greece was conquered by the Kingdom of Macedonia. The Greek city-state was buried in the dust of history, but its pioneering democratic political system had a far-reaching impact on later generations.
trait
abstract
Etymologically speaking, the meaning of the word democracy is "derived from the Greek demos (people) and kratia (rule or authority), meaning' rule by the people'". When early thinkers classified the types of government, they regarded the number of people in power as a basic standard and believed that most people in power were democratic governments.
The democratic thought of ancient Greece was a society that rejected rulers and ruled. It believes that the ideal city-state should be that all citizens actively participate in social and political life. Its principle is that no one can claim to be a ruler, and no one can hold inalienable power in his own name. Direct and active autonomy is the highest creed of Athenian citizens. Ancient democratic politics refers to a system in which all full members or at least most full members legally make decisions directly or indirectly on the interests of most people in an institution.
The democratic system in ancient Greece was a polis-centered democracy. The characteristics of its democracy are:
Civilian regime
First, democratic rights. Citizens are harmonious and their interests are generally the same. The citizens who make up the city-state, no matter how different their origins, status and responsibilities are, are all the same kind of people in a sense. Citizens are quite homogeneous, with roughly equal property and similar language, education, culture and ethnic background. Except slaves, foreigners, exiles and women, all citizens directly govern the country. The number of citizens is small, which avoids the appearance of heterogeneous components among citizens and facilitates citizens to understand the public affairs of the polis and understand each other. The most important activities in social life are endowed with complete openness. It can even be said that polis can exist only when the public sphere appears.
Pericles said in a speech, "Our political system is called democracy because the political power is in the hands of citizens all over the country, not a few people." Aristotle also said that the essential feature of Athens civilian politics is that "civilians must have the highest power; Political affairs are determined by the will of the majority; The will of most people is justice. " (Of course, this has also buried the hidden danger of "tyranny of the majority". Socrates, a philosopher, was sentenced to death by referendum in 399 BC for propagating untimely ideas. )
Athenian citizens have actual control over officials and laws, and they realize this power through the courts. Courts belong to all citizens. Any member of the court is open to citizens over 30 years old. There are 6,000 jurors, who are elected once a year, and then allocated to various courts by lot to exercise their functions and powers. Successive consuls should flatter civilians like tyrants.
Sovereignty in the people is also manifested as "taking turns to govern." Athens politics is open to all citizens, and official positions are no longer limited by wealth and family status. The Athenians believed that since every citizen was free, no one should be ruled by others. This is actually impossible, so we have to "take turns to be rulers and ruled." "This is justice."
limitation on sb's power
Second, power constraints. Citizens directly decide matters related to laws and policies through assembly. Every free man in the polis is a citizen, and public affairs are presided over by the consul they elected. The citizens' assembly composed of all citizens decides the important affairs of the city-state through direct democratic voting. Aristotle mentioned that all political systems have three elements: deliberative function, administrative function and judicial function.
Shell/pottery exile law is an important means for all Athenian citizens to control senior administrative officials. In the eyes of the Athenians, in a city-state composed of equal people, it is unnatural for one person to be above the whole country. If an administrative official has too much power, it may endanger the country, so citizens can expel him from the country in a secret vote held once a year. Shell/pottery exile law is a modern impeachment law for senior executives. Why is it called shell/pottery expulsion? Because many civilians can't read, they use shells as a tool to show their attitude. It can be seen that democracy does not have to be implemented after illiteracy is eliminated. )
Supremacy of law
Third, the law is supreme. The political system in Athens strictly implements the rule of law, and the rule of man is absolutely forbidden.
Pericles said, "In private life, we are free and tolerant. But in public affairs, we obey the law. This is because this spirit has deeply convinced us. " Before taking office, every official must swear that he will be a fair and lawful politician and will never accept gifts from his position. If they accept something, they will erect a golden statue, which will last forever. Some senior officials, including the top ten generals, were exiled and executed for illegal personal gain, including a son of Pericles who was also executed innocently.
Aristotle said, "Who says individuals should rule? This has mixed animal factors into politics. " The Athenians thought that an autocratic regime that ignored the law was the worst regime. Athens also set up a marble tablet engraved with the anti-tyrant law, stipulating that anyone who tries to establish a dictatorship in Athens is not guilty. In 5 14 BC, two young men were killed because they failed to assassinate the tyrant. The Athenians regarded them as a generation of heroes and made statues to commemorate them.
a sense of citizenship
Fourth, civic awareness. Citizen participation is not limited to assembly, but also includes active participation in urban management. Every citizen can hold an official position by drawing lots. You can personally participate in the management of state affairs through people's congresses, courts and other institutions. Democracy brought unprecedented prosperity to Athens. Everyone in Athens is proud to live in a United and harmonious Athens.
In the funeral speech, Pericles was permeated with the solemn sense of honor of the Athenians-
"I hope you look at the magnificent Athens every day, which will gradually fill your hearts with love for her. When you are fascinated by her magnificent scenery, you will think of the people who created this empire. They understand their duties and have the courage to perform their duties ... give their lives generously for her, just like the best gift for her holiday. "
Everyone can go into politics, and a unified citizen collective has been formed. Caring for Athens, participating in politics and taking turns in power are sacred things in the hearts of Athenians. It is by observing this phenomenon that Aristotle said, "Man is a political animal."