Applied Democracy

Running Head : APPLIED DEMOCRACY

Applied Democracy : Incorporation of Greek Elements into

Modern Democracy

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Applied Democracy : Incorporation of Greek Elements into

Modern Democracy

Many of the elements of modern democracy are derived from Greek sources . This is not coincidence since Greece was the first nation to introduce and institutionalize democracy (some claimed that it was Rome which institutionalized democracy . Democracy came from the Greek words `demos ' and `kratos ' which altogether means rule of the people . In ancient Athens , democracy developed as a system of government

br because it symbolized an end to tyranny (Boardman , 1988 . Tyranny here refers to the authoritarian rule of one person - usually a king or dictator - who do not respect the interests of the common good . During the Archaic period , the term `tyranny ' was associated with the `break with tradition . Much of the ruling class depend their power on wealth rather than political wisdom . Tyrannies based their power on military exploits . In Athens , the succession rule of tyrants destroyed much of its political life . Many of the leading elders of the city-state were either banished or imprisoned (Boardman , 1988 . Many of the city-state 's sacred political bodies (which were aristocratic in character ) were abolished . It is no wonder why the two greatest philosophers of the ancient world , Plato and Aristotle are in agreement as to the dangers of tyranny

Against Tyranny

Plato put a systematic argument against tyranny . He argued that it is impossible for the tyrant to consider the common good because of...