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These early institutions include: These early institutions include:
*], an ]ic parliament was founded in ] and in theory was open to all free men (owning property). However in practice membership was limited, for example, when ]'s stepson wanted to enter it, Njal had to persuade the Althing to enlarge itself so a seat would be available. It was an instance of large popular influence on government, and an inspiration for the modern Icelandic democracy. But it was preceeded by less elaborate moots all over Europe; see ]

*The ]a system in ]. All men who owned land, all professionals, and all craftsmen, were entitled to become members of an assembly, known ]. Each tuath's members formed an annual assembly which decided all common policies, declared war or peace on other tuatha, and elected or deposed their 'kings'. The tuath was thus a body of persons voluntarily united for socially beneficial purposes and the sum total of the landed properties of its members constituted its territorial dimension. About 80 to 100 tuatha coexisted at any time throughout Ireland.{{inote|see Murray N. Rothbard, For a New Liberty, Chapter 12|For a New Liberty}}
*The ]a system in ].
*The ]s republics of ], of which ] and ] were the most successful, and similar city-states in ], ] and the ]. Similar democratic elements can be traced to pre-medieval city-states as well, for example to the famous city-states of Ancient Greece (discussed in the above section) and non-Greece cities in the ], like ] and ]. Basically all European cities used various democratic decision making procedures - elections to the ] or position of ], decision taking by voting in the town council, etc. Cities were, in general, an important place where early democracy was experimented with and used.
*The republics of medieval Italy, of which ] and ] were the most successful.
*Similar ]s in ], ] and the ].
*Rise of ] in the ] and ]: ] of ], ] and ] (1573). See also: ], ], ] *Rise of ] in the ] and ]: ] of ], ] and ] (1573). See also: ], ], ]
*Rise of ] in the ]: ] (]), ] (]-]), ] (]). See also: other documents listed at the ], ] *Rise of ] in the ]: ] (]), ] (]-]), ] (]). See also: other documents listed at the ], ]

Revision as of 10:10, 2 June 2005

Origins

Ancient Greece

Main article: History of Athens

The word 'democracy' was invented in Athens, to describe the revolutionary system of government used. Athenian democracy provides an example of the first democracy, and one of the most important in ancient times.

By virtue of the fact that democracy has evolved over time (and is still continuing to in some respects), there are a few key differences between Athenian democracy and democracies which exist today.

First, Athenian democracy's principle was selection by lot. The assembly of all male citizens in Athens voted on decisions directly (compare direct democracy). Elected officials did not determine decisions—the ancients did not consider such a system a democracy but an oligarchy. Democracy had (and for some people still has) the meaning of equality in decisions and of elections in decisions, not the election of persons charged to decide (see representative democracy).

One of the reasons why this system was feasible is because of the relatively small population of Athens—only 300,000 people. Additionally, there were severe restrictions that dictated who had the right to vote, which excluded over half of the total population. Voting rights were limited strictly to male adult citizens of Athens. Therefore, women, children, slaves, foreigners, resident aliens—groups that together made up a majority of the city's population—had no voting rights at all. On the other hand, modern democracy has its own limitations in comparison to the ancient model, as the right of voting is usually limited to once every several years, and voters merely get to choose their representatives in the legislative or executive branches (with the exception of occasional referendums).

After the fall of Athens, the Periclean democracy was restored in less than a year. However, even though Athens had previously encouraged democracy in her allies and dependent states; she was no longer in a position to do so. Democracy declined.

In comparison, although the Roman republic elected its leaders, and passed its laws by popular assemblies, the system had been effectively gerrymandered in the interest of the rich and well-born. The Romans favored similar systems in the states they controlled.

Localized early democratic institutions and medieval European developments

Almost all cultures have at some time had their new leaders approved, or at least accepted, by the people; and have changed the laws only after consultation with the assembly of the people or their leaders. Such institutions existed since before the Iliad or the Odyssey, and modern democracies are often derived or inspired by them, or what remained of them. However, the direct result was as likely to be a narrow oligarchy, as at Venice, or even an absolute monarchy, as in Florence, as a democracy.

These early institutions include:

Eighteenth and nineteenth century milestones

The secret ballot

The notion of a secret ballot, where one is entitled to the privacy of their votes, is taken for granted by most today by virtue of the fact that it is simply considered the norm. However, this practice was highly controversial in the 19th century.

The two earliest systems used were the Victorian method and the South Australian method. Both were introduced in 1856 to voters in Victoria and South Australia. The Victorian method involved voters crossing out all the candidates whom he did not approve of. The South Australian method, which is more similar to what most democracies use today, had voters put a mark in the preferred candidate's corresponding box. The Victorian voting system also was not completely secret, as it was traceable by a special number.

20th century waves of democracy

Contemporary trends

See also

Ideas

Documents

People

References

External links

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