Democracy in Crisis

Abstract

Studies • volume 106 • number 423 274 Democracy in Crisis Democracy in Crisis Thomas N Mitchell Democracy is an appealing form of government that recognises the dignity, equal value and basic rights of every human being. But it is also a system that is vulnerable on many fronts. Donald Kagan, in his book on Pericles, has aptly described it as ‘one of the most fragile flowers in the jungle of human experience’.1 Modern democracy is experiencing that fragility, and is going through one of the most challenging eras in its relatively short history. Before examining the state of modern democracy, it is worth reviewing democracy’s beginnings; how this radically new ideal of government emerged in Athens, the principles on which it was based, its successes and shortcomings and the lessons it has left for modern democracy. There is no better guide to a fuller understanding of the true character of the democratic ideal than the Athenian story. The Athenian revolution Before democracy’s first coming, the world knew only the rule of monarchs, tyrants and aristocratic elites, a rule that was often oppressive, unconcerned with the well-being of the many and unconstrained by a defined code of law. By the sixth century bc the abuses perpetrated by these regimes had generated widespread discontent across the Greek world. In Athens, a respected aristocrat, Solon, was appointed civil head of the state in 594 with full powers to reform the legal and political system. He succeeded in enacting laws to protect the personal freedom of all citizens and equality before the law, with rights to appeal against the so-called crooked judgments. He also marginally increased the political role of the people, but he left the wealthy and well-born firmly in control of government. After Solon’s departure, Athens was soon again mired in factional strife, which brought a populist factional leader, Peisistratus, to a position of absolute power which he held until his death in 527. More turmoil followed, but this time there emerged from it a reformist aristocrat, Cleisthenes, who was intent on radically changing the social and political order. In 507–8 he brought forward a new form of constitution based on a vision of the state as 276 Studies • volume 106 • number 423 a community of free citizens, equal in their right to freedom, equal before the law, equal in their political rights, a community governing themselves under laws of their own making and working together to advance the common good. The constitution would have a new name, demokratia, which meant that power lay with the people. The voice of the people would be sovereign, and every citizen would count as one and no one would count as more than one. This was true self-rule, trusting in the native instincts and capacities of the people themselves to decide collectively their common destiny and how best to advance the common interest. It was an inspiring vision, warmly supported by the demos, and its implementation marked an important moment in the history of human progress. Under the new order Athens flourished. It created the most powerful fleet in Greece, masterminded the rout of the invading Persian forces, established under Athenian leadership a formidable union of Aegaean states known as the Delian League, and gave the world its first age of enlightenment, which produced masterpieces of architecture, literature and foundational philosophical works, all of which have permanently shaped the character of western civilisation in fundamental ways. But, buoyed by success, the Athenian demos fell victim to what the Greeks termed hubris, an arrogant pride that moved them to set their sights on gaining dominance over all of Greece. They were chiefly led in this by one of their most gifted leaders, Pericles, a talented military commander, an exceptional orator and a visionary who had the goal of converting the Delian League into an Athenian empire and giving Athens primacy in the Greek world. He succeeded in gaining full control of the League, but the upshot of his wider ambition was a ruinous war with the other major coalition in Greece – Sparta and her allies. The war began in 431, but Pericles died soon afterwards in a deadly...