Rethinking Athenian Democracy
Contributors: Tuck, Richard; Mansbridge, Jane; Garsten, Bryan
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Description: Conventional accounts of classical Athenian democracy represent the assembly as the primary democratic institution in the Athenian political system. This looks reasonable in the light of modern democracy, which has typically developed through the democratization of legislative assemblies. Yet it conflicts with the evidence at our disposal. Our ancient sources suggest that the most significant and distinctively democratic institution in Athens was the courts, where decisions were made by large panels of randomly selected ordinary citizens with no possibility of appeal.
Notes: Keywords: Aristotle, Athenian assembly, Athenian courts, Athenian democracy, Deliberation, Plato.

Thesis Ph.D. Harvard University 2013