Democracy in the New World Order

Democracy, literally, rule by the people. The term is derived from the Greek dēmokratiā, which was coined from dēmos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”) in the middle of the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states notably Athens.

In effect  the term democracy refers to a a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Although there is evidence that democracy, broadly speaking, was widely practiced within tribes and small societies throughout early history, the term was first used in 507 BCE by the Athenian leader Cleisthenes to introduce political reforms that he called demokratia. The Greek word demokratia means “rule by the people” or “power to the people” (from demos, “the people,” and kratos, or “power”). Therefore, the ancient Greek city-state of Athens is credited to be the first democracy in the world. Its political system was comprised of three separate institutions: 

• the ekklesia, a sovereign governing body that wrote laws and dictated foreign policy.
• the boule, a council of representatives from the ten Athenian tribes and the dikasteria.
• the popular courts in which citizens argued cases before a group of lottery-selected jurors. 

Although this Athenian democracy would survive for only two centuries, its “invention” by Cleisthenes was one of ancient Greece’s most enduring contributions to the modern world. Ever since, democracy has faded in and out of western civilization through revolutions, and overthrows, until it finally culminated into the clash of civilizations of the past century. 

Watch the Clash of Civilizations and Democracy

In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political reforms that he called demokratia, or “rule by the people” (from demos, “the people,” and kratos, or “power”). It was the first known democracy in the world. This system was comprised of three separate institutions: the ekklesia, a sovereign governing body that wrote laws and dictated foreign policy; the boule, a council of representatives from the ten Athenian tribes and the dikasteria, the popular courts in which citizens argued cases before a group of lottery-selected jurors. Although this Athenian democracy would survive for only two centuries, its invention by Cleisthenes, “The Father of Democracy,” was one of ancient Greece’s most enduring contributions to the modern world. The Greek system of direct democracy would pave the way for representative democracies across the globe.

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• Direct Democracy
• Representative democracy
• Constitiutional democracy
• Monitory democracy

Direct democracy
In a direct democracy, such as ancient Athens, all citizens (only adult males who had completed their military training; women, slaves and plebs were not citizens) are invited to participate in all political decisions. This form of democracy is no longer practiced. In this form of democracy citizens are continuously involved in the exercise of power and decision is by majority rule.

Representative democracy
In a representative democracy, representatives are elected by the people and entrusted to carry out the business of governance. Australia is a representative democracy.

Constitutional democracy
In a constitutional democracy a constitution outlines who will represent the people and how. Australia is also a constitutional democracy.

Monitory democracy
Political scientist John Keane suggests that a new form of democracy is evolving in which government is constantly monitored in its exercise of power by a vast array of public and private agencies, commissions and regulatory mechanisms. See Life and Death of Democracy by John Keane, published by Simon and Schuster UK in 2009.