Athens, the cradle of human democratic thought
In the 8th century BC, after the formation of Athens city-state, the regime was controlled by gentry. The oligarchic dictatorship of aristocrats kept civilians and aristocrats in a state of confrontation for a long time. It was not until later that * * * chose Solon as mediator and consul and entrusted the government to him that Athenian politics entered the democratic period. This was around 594 BC.
Solon's reform adopted the golden mean, suppressed the rich and helped the poor, and entered politics as an arbitrator. He said that between the rich and the poor, he held a big shield to "protect both sides and prevent either side from gaining an unfair advantage." He also said, "I make laws, regardless of whether they are high or low, treat them equally, go straight, and everyone has his place." He resumed the civic assembly and the 400-member meeting. The citizens' assembly is the highest authority of the country, and citizens at all levels have the right to participate. It has the right to elect important officials and decide on state affairs such as war and peace. The 400-member conference is equivalent to the standing body of the citizens' assembly (such as the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) today), and consists of 65,438+000 people elected by each of the four tribes. In addition, people's courts have been established, and every citizen has the right to participate, and jurors can be elected to participate in the trial of cases. He stipulates that every citizen has the right to appeal to the citizens' assembly and the people's court about his vital interests, and anyone has the freedom to claim compensation for the victims voluntarily. In China, today, if a lawyer represents an injured consumer group, it is not allowed! The United States has such public interest litigation. )
He popularized the right to vote and enabled ordinary people to enjoy the basic democratic rights of citizens. Aristotle commented, "When people have the right to vote, they become the masters of the government." Therefore, Solon expanded the social foundation of life-saving participation and laid the foundation of Athens' democratic political system.
However, he did not please both sides and resigned on his own initiative, but the condition for leaving his job was that he must implement the constitution he promulgated. At this time, it was the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in China. In the second year, Chu Zhuangwang's enemy, Lu Hun, passed through Luoyi, making people ask the Zhou Dynasty for dominance. When the king of Chu refused to go to the embassy, the Chu soldiers retreated. After ten years of siege, Zheng Bo surrendered and was released. Sixteen years, Chu Zhuangwang died. )
Later, after the rule of peisistratus and Cleisthenes, the democratic system developed again, and finally the Athenian city-state democracy was determined.
In 492 BC (equivalent to the end of the Spring and Autumn Period in China, 770-476 BC), after the demise of the vassal state of the bonfire drama, the Zhou family gradually weakened and the local vassal state became stronger and stronger, focusing on the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period. ), the Persian army invaded Greece and the Persian War broke out. The war lasted about half a century. A peace treaty was signed in the first 449 years. The Persian empire was badly weakened, but Athens' military and political prestige was greatly improved and it achieved the status of Greek leader. It has created extremely favorable conditions for the development and spread of democratic politics. During this period, from 443 to 429, Pericles was re-elected as the chief general of Athens and became the supreme ruler of Athens, which initiated a new era of Greek civilization.
Pericles opened the position of consul to the third level and acquiesced in those elected in the fourth level, thus making it possible for more poor citizens to hold public office. In 45 1 year BC, the civil law was promulgated.
He strengthened the role of the citizens' assembly, which further restricted the consul's power and prevented him from being re-elected. Any citizen can file an "illegal complaint" with the court. Even if the resolution of the 500-member meeting or the citizens' assembly violates the current constitution or the legislative procedure, ordinary citizens can lodge a complaint, and the jury court has the right to hear it. Aristotle praised this as the right thing to do. "Because a few people are always more susceptible to money or power and more prone to corruption than most people."
During the period of Pericles, Athens enjoyed economic and cultural prosperity and unprecedented development of democratic politics. Athens became a typical example of perfecting city-state democracy.
Democracy in Athens can be summarized as the following concepts:
First of all, sovereignty belongs to the people's minds. 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."