The first form of democracy was born in “Athens, Greece” (“History of”). Demokratia is a Greek word meaning “rule by the people” (“Rule by”). The “Athenian democracy depended on every citizen fulfilling his role” (“Democracy Is”). The ideology behind democracy has not altered from the Athenian democracy. It is still essential for citizens to participate in a democracy in order to fulfil a democracies main political goal, which is a government by the people. Over the course of history several nations have adopted democracy. The American colonies developed the first modern democracy, when the American Revolution “prompted a call for a new type of government with a constitution to guarantee liberty” (“Foundations of”). The American Constitution …show more content…
The government has a unique ability to avoid releasing information, in fact, “executive government can use a number of excuses to avoid divulging potentially embarrassing information, for instance, protecting national security, safeguarding relations with other governments, concealing confidential advice or commercially sensitive information and avoiding comment on cases before the courts” (Mulgan 113). Mulgan also states that “for the most part, the government itself is allowed to determine when information can justifiably be withheld” (113). According to Schedler, “If the exercise of power were transparent, there would be no need for holding anybody accountable. The demand for accountability originates from the opacity of power” (Schedler 20). A flaw in our government is that there is very little transparency. Citizens in the United States do not have full access to the decisions the government officials make. In order to strengthen our democracy, the citizens must have the opportunity to know the truth and know the decisions or mistakes that are made in government. The government uses numerous excuses and responses in order to keep their secrets and information from citizens. The government has the ability to decide what information it chooses to release for the general public, therefore, it can withhold …show more content…
Education is a important staple in societies and is “conducive to democracy” (“Reaching Out”). According to a sub-Saharan African study, “People of voting age with a primary education were 1.5 times more likely to support democracy than people with no education – those who had completed secondary school were three times more likely” (“Reaching Out”). A critical tool that education helps develop is that “education helps people make informed judgements” (“Reaching Out”). It has been discovered that “Education has a key role in fostering national and international support for the multilateral governance needed to address problems such as finance, trade, security and environmental sustainability” (“Reaching Out”). Carl Becker says that “It must then be an assumption of democratic government that its citizens are rational creatures, sufficiently so at least to understand the interests in conflict” (Becker 132). Education is the most important tool for a democratic government to utilize. Education develops future generations to ensure that the country will have qualified and adequate leaders to lead the country in later years. However, not only does education help develop future leaders, it also helps develop future citizens. In the sub-Saharan African study, it was proven that the more education a person receives the
On the other hand, there might b reasons as to why the government censors most of its news. One of these reasons might be because of “national security”. If the government were to release more than enough information, we might be threatened by people who take advantage of the situation.
The system of government we have today was starting to developed centuries ago by the Athenians and Romans. Both governments were established with the intent to give power to the people, even though it did not always play out that way in society. The Athenian democracy and the Roman republic were two very different governments in practice, but also maintained similar characteristics in both systems of government.
Education has always been in existence in one form or another. As each child is born into this world regardless of who or where they are born, life lessons immediately begin. He/she will learn to crawl, walk, and talk by the example and encouragement of others. Although these lessons are basic in the beginning they evolve as the child grows. However, the core learning method of a child does not change. Learning from others, they will watch, listen, and then act for themselves. Thomas Jefferson believed that an education would lead men and women to the ability to be self-governed and become positive contributors to society (Mondale & Patton, 2001). Today, we can see how true this is by the examples of others. Those that are given the opportunity for education are more likely to find jobs and develop skills that not only improve a community, but influence the economic growth of their nation (Ravitch, Cortese, West, Carmichael, Andere, & Munson, 2009, p. 13). On the other hand, if an education is not provided to individuals, they can become a hindrance to that nation’s growth.
Democracy was a revolutionary development for the Ancient Greek society it was an innovative idea which gave the citizens of Ancient Greeks the freedom to participate in the governmental system and contribute in the processes and decisions, this in turn helped Ancient Greece succeed politically and economically. This democratic society not only helped Greece succeed in the Mediterranean region but also influenced modern day society. The Ancient Greeks succeeded significantly and were highly advanced for this period, the progressive thoughts and ideas demonstrated by individuals in this society contributed to the development of democracy in Athens which has become one of the most beneficial forms of government created.
To describe a society’s constitution as a democracy, or dêmokratia, implies a sense that the people who live in it have a degree of power over the key decisions made within it. In Athens in the Classical era, Athenian citizens asserted their full combined power to take control of all the city’s affairs, and the polis ran under the banner of dêmokratia. The combined Athenian male citizenry, the dêmos, wielded power over the making and administration of laws, the distribution of official powers, economic structure, and external relations. Key to the idea of dêmokratia were principles such as isonomia, isêgoria, and eleutheria, which meant that citizens could freely pursue a political life and contribute positively into the politics of the state.
Before democracy, Athens was a city-state no different than any other. A few powerful, aristocratic families controlled all governing power. Most of the population held little or no role in the political life of the city. Athenians changed this, and created a system where participation was encouraged and opinions were valued. While some other Greek cities were also setting up democracies, none were as stable or well documented as that of Athens. The reason for why the Athenians moved toward a democratic society instead of an oligarchy or monarchy is still debated by historians. However, one common belief is that it rose due to a rapid population growth in their lower class, which may have caused them to have more power in the government compared to other Greek poleis during the Lyric Age. This time period took place between 800 and 500 B.C.; it represents a very vibrant, evolutionary stage in Greek history. The rise of the lower class in Athens probably did help spark ideas of democracy, yet the significant contributions of the political leadership of Solon, Cleisthenes, and Pericles can undisputedly be credited for the primary development of Athenian democracy. In 594 B.C., the first major political and economic reformer Solon came into power. The next reformer was Cleisthenes; he lived from 570 to 508 B.C. The final, and most revolutionary of the three was Pericles. Pericles is responsible for the last and most glorious stage of Athens. By expanding its power and building patriotic pride, he forever changed the system of democracy.
If it came to it, the government would tell lies to the citizens just to get there support, even if the support was based on lies. That is what happened in World War One. In the First World War, the government hid the truth and showed the public fake images and information. However, by the time we entered World War two reporting had changed. During that conflict journalists
Foreign Policy: A Democratic Empire If freedom meant not being subject to anyone else, the way to guarantee this was to go conquer others. The Athenians could create a democratic system that would suppress the emergence of a tyrant, however, freedom also depended on the Athenians not being subject to others in external affairs. The building of relative power on the international field was the most certain way of guaranteeing freedom for Athenian citizens. It was a common Greek view of freedom to include freedom for oneself as the right to dominate over others.
Education is a fundamental human right we take for granted, yet children in Mali face considerable barriers to basic education. Why should Americans care about this? Education is a potent catalyst for social change. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the
The term democracy comes from the Greek language and means "rule by the people."(Democracy Building 2012) The democracy in Athens represents the events leading up to modern day democracies. Like our modern democracy, the Athenian democracy was created as a reaction to a concentration and abuse of power by the rulers. Philosophers defined the essential elements of democracy as a separation of powers, basic civil rights, human rights, religious liberty and separation of church and state. The most current definition of a democracy is defined as a “government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.”(Dictionary.com). The American democracy was greatly influenced by the Athenian democracy. The Founding Fathers of the American democracy borrowed ideas from the Athenian way of governing. Presently, Americans live in a democracy that is much different than that the Athenian democracy, and what the Founding Fathers of the American Democracy envisioned. Although there are some commonalities between Athens and what our Founding Fathers intended, there are major differences as well. Differences between the modern American democracy the Athenian democracy and what the Founding Fathers envisioned are size of the democracies, the eligibility of a citizen to participate in the democracy and how a citizen participated.
Democracy has been adopted by many countries around the world and was first recorded in the powerful state of Athens. The most influential philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, were the building blocks of philosophy, as we know it. These Athenian thinkers asked, “What is a good life?” and “How do we think?”
Education plays a vital role in shaping tomorrows’ leaders. Not only can we become a better nation by acquiring the skills necessary to be productive members of a civilized society. Increase knowledge to actively achieve and meet challenges that can produce changes in which are productive for attaining business innovations, political and economic objectives.
Education is the backbone of democracy; knowledge holds everything up needed for a democracy to survive. If a backbone were straight, the body would not be able to move as much. The same idea goes to a democracy; if the people were not educated then the democracy would have trouble surviving because it would be un...
Democracy emanates from a Greek word Demokratia which literally translates to the rule of people. In other words, power rests with people in democracy.(Britannica.com). “Democracy refers to a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.”-Abraham Lincoln.
Nelson Mandela once said,“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Education is the process of gaining information about the world. Education gives us knowledge of the world around us and changes it into something even better. Access to education is the foundation of a democratic society, because it provides an opportunity for all to achieve the American Dream, ensures equality and justice, and allows for our country to compete globally for a prosperous future.