In global politics, mentioning of the Athenian democracy and American democracy is common. Interestingly, the world’s first democracy developed in Athens at a time when it was growing imperial. However, major differences and similarities occur between the Athenian democracy and American democracy. For instance, a ‘lot chose a leader in Athens’ while a leader in the US is elected (Athenian democracy 1). The major similarity between the two is that the legislative branch passes the law. However, the following discussion will delve into some of these variations and similarities to better understand the Athenian democracy and American democracy. On the onset, democratic strategies were much varied in Ancient Athens than it is experienced in contemporary countries such as the US. One of the features of the Athenian democracy is that it was elusive. In simpler terms, ‘slaves, women, and children, as well as resident aliens, lacked citizenship’ (Paul 1).
They were denied the opportunity to vote. Such a group of persons lacked any effect on the government during this time. Hence, a few privileged individuals filled with the government. For example, the Archons occupied most of the government seats thereby limiting equality. Besides, males above 20years were ‘allowed to vote and go to Ekklesia’ (Rubenstein 245). In the United States, equality is stressed and seeks to limit exclusion and violation of the fundamental human rights. Persons not born in the US, but acquire citizenship through legal ways enjoy the same rights enjoyed by the natives (Patterson 267). For instance, Barack Obama went to the point of becoming the US president. The other feature of the Athenian democracy is the estrangement of political power was absurd to the Greek people. The Greeks had elections via a ‘chance method and they personally selected their military leaders,’ which are known as the ‘selection by lot’ (Athenian democracy 1). Random selection was experienced in Athens believing that they gave everyone the chance to serve in government. However, in the US, the citizens elect their leaders in free and fair elections. Notably, the ‘Athens democracy was direct’ while the American one is ‘representative democracy’ (Hudson 67).
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Every person in Athens had an equal say in what the government would do. The citizens directly made new laws. Interestingly, they could act as judges and decide when to go to war. In the US, democracy is representative (indirect) such that ‘citizens elect officials to represent them and such representatives do the majority of lawmaking and governing’ (Patterson 257). The other distinguishing factor between the two democracies is that Athenians had to look for particular qualifications before making a selection of judges, but none could reflect professional legal experience. In the US states, the selected person has to ‘demonstrate professional legal experience’ and would be either selected by existing officials (Rubenstein 367). Citizenship in Athens was determined using different criteria contrary to what is experienced in the US today. The right to citizenship was not derived from socioeconomic status, but the ‘power of appropriation’ as well as the ‘relations between classes’ was directly influenced by democratic citizenship (Gill 1). In the US, those who meet the legal prerequisites meet the right to citizenship. In the criminal justice system, the citizens had to represent personally themselves in court than getting a lawyer (Hudson 67). However, in American Democracy, a person is needed a lawyer to represent him in the court of law.
The other major key to note between the two is that ‘Athens lacked a formal system of balances and checks’ (Paul 1). Athens could not make firm institutional bodies. It is noted that government bodies had a stable membership only for a very short time. In the US, formal systems of checks and balances survive where accountability is advocated. However, there are notable similarities between the two democracies where both of them have three branches of government, which is inscribed in the philosophy of the separation of powers. The Athenian government had three arms of government namely ‘Boule, Ekklesia, and Dikasteria’ (Paul 1). In the US, there is the legislature, parliament, and judiciary. The other similarity between the two types of democracy is the presence of patriotism and nationalism. In Athens, the Athenians were always ‘free in welfare ‘such that they related well with their neighbors such as Sparta (Paul 1).
The Americans are known to be nationalistic and patriotic such that is seen with respect for each other. The other noted similarity between the two is the concept of assemblage. In the Athenian democracy, the citizens ‘Assembly witnessed meetings at least forty times every year’ to discuss and mitigate issues threatening their survival (Athenian Democracy 1). Such meetings solved political, social, and economic problems. Meetings in the US are done regularly to mitigate economic, social, and political issues. It can be related that Athenian democracy and American democracy have similarities and variations. Some of the similarities between the two are that they enjoy three arms of government in addition to having regular meetings to discuss issues affecting the nations. However, major differences are witnessed between that are witnessed in voting, eligibility to vote, and the appointment of judges.
Works Cited
- Athenian Democracy. 2019. http://www.uvm.edu/~jbailly/courses/clas21/notes/atheniandemocracy.html
- Hudson, William E. American Democracy in Peril: Eight Challenges to America's Future. , 2016. Print.
- Paul Cartledge. History: Critics and Critiques of Athenian Democracy. BBC. 2017. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekcritics_01.shtml
- Rubenstein, Harry R. American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. 2017. Internet resource.
- S.L. Gill. Democracy Then and Now. ThoughtCo. 2019. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/democracy-then-and-now-111997
- Patterson, Thomas E. The American Democracy. London: McGraw-Hill Education - Europe, 2003. Print.
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