Origins of Democracy in Antiquity?

Antike Ursprünge der Demokratie? was the title of a lecture Professor Hans-Joachim Gehrke gave in the framework of the Samstags-Uni. This summer semester, the series of presentations is devoted to "Democracy,"

Yes, the Greek polis (cities) developed in communities and particularly in Athens democratic structures that could be looked upon to be the origins of modern democracy.

A pompous, lurid title

No, the ancient Greeks did not save democracy but defended Athens against Asian intruders.

Here is a comparison of Athens' "democracy" with modern democracies

Voting: Free men only (about 10% of the people)  > The adult population 

Representation of the people: Direct > Representatives

Jurisdiction: People are the judges > Separation of powers

Religion: Part of the system  > Separation of church and state

Equality:  Exclusion of women and slaves > Basic human rights

Athens' agora around 500 BC

The most important meeting place in the ancient polis (cities) was the agora (marketplace), where you paid in tetradrachma and now pay in euros.

Tradition: Carrying owls to Athens?
Instead, carry them in your pocket when visiting the agora.

In ancient Greece, education was a valuable commodity. People must learn to live in community. Decency and justice are necessary, and these virtues should be taught so that, according to Plato euboulia, i.e., excellence in counsel and sound judgment can be achieved.

Notice the tablets with the law set in stone.

Ultimately, Athenian democracy developed in tension between dictatorship and the rule of law. Kylon's attempted coup was followed by Drakon's legislation, "The editors (anagrapheis) must write down his law (nomos) on manslaughter [...] together with the scribe on a marble stele and erect it in front of the Stoa Basileios ..."

Ancient Greek law tablet

However, it was the laws of Solon (594 BC), known from school lessons, that made it difficult to establish a tyranny. Solon wrote, "To teach this to the Athenians has occupied my mind since most of the evils of the city are brought by unlawfulness (dysnomia). Legality (eunomia), however, proves everything to be well-ordered and straightforward and imposes ample restraints on the unjust. "

"I achieved this by exercising my power (krótos) in combining coercion (bía) and law (dikē) and completed it as I had promised. The laws (thesmoí) I wrote are equally for the bad (kakós) and the good (agathós)."

How Athens' full citizens (men) participated in managing the polis.
Note that in many cases men are not elected, but a lot decides.

The polis (police!), i.e., the state, stands against violence and is linked to the law. The people stand for and commit themselves to the rule of law (nomocracy).

The Athenians had their laws chiseled in stone for consistency. The protection of laws through citizen involvement was the path to democracy.

Prof.  Gehrke showed the various types of rules according to Polybios. The best illustration in the form of a table I found in the German Wikipedia:

On the left, the number of rulers (one, some or all)
Above, the orientation (common good or self-interest)

Changing the ending "ie" to "y" means you'll have nearly all the English words. Ochlocracy stands for mob rule. 

The Roman Republic had three pillars: the People's Assembly, the Senate, and the Consuls, elected for a fixed term.

The Constitution of the US is based on the Greek model, as explained in the Federalist Papers.

The autonomous basic unit for democracy is always the citizenry (civitas in the west and polis in the east): civitas sibi princeps (the city [itself] is the prince [the ruler]).

Indeed, democratic structures work best in small entities. On June 9, we will hold elections to the European Parliament and local elections, i.e., we will elect a new city council in Freiburg. Red Baron has the choice between more than 900 candidates for 48 seats. Indeed, the coming city council will work as harmoniously as the old one.

The situation is alright, too, on the level of the German states. Coalitions of parties work for the benefit of their "citizens." However, political quarrels develop as entities become bigger. The opposition attacks not only the government but also the parties supporting the government and their members personally. Our political culture is going down the drain. 

But who am I telling this?

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