Oligarchy

A philosopher Plato lived in the time of kings and the institution of the first Republic. But even the most powerful civilizations fall due to problems that suffocate the people’s voices and the society’s strength. Plato tried to discreetly propose solutions to nation’s problems by writing a text called, “The Republic of Plato”. The text details a city that would maximise function and create balance. While writing, he spoke through a fellow philosopher, known as Socrates, to avoid conflict…

SPARTAN POLITICAL ORGANISATION: Additionally, the Lycurgan reforms brought forward a new system of government. Ancient historians Plato and Polybius, described this new form of government as a mix of democratic, monarchist, and oligarchist systems, comprised of multiple organs. The government consisted of the Ekklesia, an assembly for all Spartiates over thirty years of age; the Gerousia, an exclusive body of thirty senior Spartiates; the Ephorate, consisting of five ephors elected by the…

Despite stark differences between Athens and Sparta, both city-states constructed a hierarchical society in which a minority of privileged citizens had access to resources and public roles that was beneficial to them. Although Athens’ interest and preference in philosophy, art, cultural activities, and a form of direct democracy had a significant impact on the variety and flexibility of citizen-roles, and later, the Western governments. This is in contrast to Sparta’s militarized society which…

Aristotle disparages democracy, literally as the rule of the people- “Democrats hold that if men are equal by birth, they should have an equal share in office…” (p.102)-as well as, a type of government in which the poor masses have control and use it to serve their own ends. Among forms of majority rule such as democracy, Aristotle prefers the political system that is a constitutional government. Throughout the end of Book III of Aristotle’s Politics, democracy is discussed at length as a…

In his work, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville details his experience with the curious case of American democracy. Unlike most other nations that embrace the system, the United States developed it almost naturally and without much strife. There was a certain equality of conditions present about those in the New World; no one was automatically set above anyone else in social stature. All arrived to start anew, and were, with the exception of the relatively few Southern plantation owners…

There is no doubt that the central idea in the “Democracy In America” is the discussion of American democracy. In this book, he discusses a lot about the problems and solutions to the democracy system in USA and tries to express his own idea of how democratic society should operate. Seeing the failure of democracy in his home country, he puts efforts to understand how democracy should work in a country that has been isolated from the rest of the world. During his discussion, one important topic…

During Greece’s Golden Age, Athens became a powerful center for new ideas. They developed democracy, a new form of government, which gave power to the people. Each Athenian had a different perspective on democracy, ranging from highly supporting and recommending it to preferring other types of government. Plato, Aristotle, and Megabyzos were early Athenian philosophers. They had easy ways to spread their ideas. Each had a strong viewpoint on democracy. After seeing and experiencing the…

In a Declaration of War against the Mexican Government, the author sees the good of society as hinging directly on the rights of the individual. As it is, the author reflects on Mexico’s past, it’s continuing battle throughout history, all towards a single goal of independence, a nation state where the people would rule. Indeed, throughout the document a strong emphasis placed upon the fact that the government should exist for the people, not as some dictatorial regime. Thus, the authors views…

There have been countless attempts at perfect societies around the world, but they all have one thing in common, failure. In theory the communities seem well, perfect, but in reality they never work out due human nature. While I think that a society that is close to socialism would be the most ideal system, the best type of government we could actually have at this point is something along the lines of a democratic republic. Every citizen should have the same power, the same right to be heard…

“Let us not forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us” Franklin D. Roosevelt. Democracy is often praised in modern society as the guard of our freedoms and liberties. Although democracy is the better option to some other forms of government, Fareed Zakaria focuses on the danger of too much democracy in his book, The Future of Freedom. His novel explains what he considers the true form of government: one that works through representatives within a regulated system.…