Can democracy survive in the 21st century : oligarchy tyranny and ochlocracy in the age of global capitalism The Spectacular Rise of Greek Trade Capitalism and the Emergence of Economic Classes Class Distinctions Based on Wealth The Emergence of Rational Legal Authority: The Rise of Science and Secular Law Education and the New ``Aristocratic ́́Elite Chapter 3: Renaissance Italian City States: The Triumph of Oligarchy and Tyranny The Arabic Golden Age Precedes the Italian Renaissance The Italian Renaissance Oligarchy and Tyranny Triumph Chapter 4: Oligarchy and Democracy in the German and Dutch Trade Capitalist and Reformation City States This book analyzes the many threats to democracy that exist in the 21st century and tries to understand how democracy can survive economic social and political crises. It focuses on issues of oligarchy tyranny totalitarianism and ochlocracy. It discusses how these forms of governance manifested themselves in ancient and medieval worlds and how socio economic transitions in the 21st century have created conditions that increasingly pose similar threats to modern democracy. The author discusses broad transitions in the contemporary world: economic transition to advanced high technology capitalism; cultural transition from traditional religious and family values to norms focusing on racial equality gender and transgender equality and liberation and multiculturalism; also transition from the traditional religious worldview to rational scientific worldview and from religious morality to secular humanist ethics. These taken together undergird the political transition from traditional authority involving monarchy and aristocracy to rational legal authority involving constitutional law and democratic participation. The book shows through extensive country discussions that whenever these transitions become difficult undemocratic forms of governance may emerge and override democracy. Authored by an expert in the field this book touches upon an especially topical theme in the contemporary world and is of interest to a wide readership across the social sciences from researchers and students to discerning laypersons Democracy Emerges in the German and Dutch Market City States and Is Reinforced by the Reformation Calvinism Legitimates the Rich as ``Godś Stewards on Earth:́́ Oligarchy Gains Legitimacy Chapter 5: Oligarchy and Democracy in the Dutch Republic and Great Britain: The Emergence of Representative Democracy The Dutch Republic Oligarchy Democracy and Monarchy in Great Britain Puritanism Against the Church of England Democracy Against Oligarchy and Monarchy Oligarchy and Grandiose (Yet Limited) Monarchy Characterized Great Britain into the Twentieth Century Science Law and the Limitation of Power: British Political Theory Chapter 6: The Structure of High Technology Global Capitalism Global Capitalism: Multinational Production and Transnational Coordination Global Capitalist Enterprises are Connected by Contract Law and Patent Law Economic ``Imperialism ́́Links Global Corporations to Raw Materials Extraction in Developing Nations Oligopoly Monopoly and Competition in the Global Capitalist System Who Controls the Giant Oligopolistic Corporations and Why Does It Matter Human History Becomes the History of Kings and Conquests Part I: The Rich Against Democracy Chapter 2: Oligarchy Democracy and Tyranny in the City States of the Ancient World City States of the Ancient World Pre Greek City States of the Middle East Trade Capitalism Emerges in the Independent City States Rich Merchant Oligarchs Oligarchy Predominates in the Pre Greek City States The Ancient Greek City States The Heavy Armored Hoplite Phalanx Empowers the Middle and Working Class and Their Warriors Assembly Intro Preface Oligarchy Democracy and Tyranny in Historical Perspective The Modern Transition Theoretical Framework Weberian Methodology Aristotelian Theory Feminist Theory The Comparative Historical Framework Durkheimś Theory of Anomie and Social Deviance Acknowledgements Contents Chapter 1: Introduction: The Origins of Democracy Humans in the Scientific State of Nature Democracy in Tribal Societies Despotism in Tribal Confederations: Kings and Priests The Power of the Priests: Theocracy and the Divine Kingship