The Evolution of Democracy

Claire Munger The Evolution of Democracy Democracy is more a Utopian aspiration rather than a concrete description of any government. A common understanding of democracy, often applied to unworthy situations, is simply that the masses will govern themselves. This understanding was articulated by an Athenian statesman, Pericles, "Our Constitution is named a democracy, because it is in the hands not of the few, but of the many"(Cummings & Wise, 1971, p.20). This idea of democracy was …

…the government of the city"(Arblaster, 1994, p.17). Although popular sovereignty came forth in England in the 1640's, it was evident in ancient Greece. The government was run by a perpetual governance of the people and never halted to delegate responsibility. The fact that Athenian government was not coordinated through representatives but through the people themselves was the key point to Athens' uniqueness. This was in part because the population was so limited. Any later att