| Description |
x, 483 p. ; 24 cm. |
| Summary |
Democracy. What does it mean? Why does it matter? Robbins begins in Athens with an overview of democracy as practiced in the day-to-day lives of the ancient Athenians, and then turns to Rome and the Italian city-states. There is a section devoted to the effects of war on emergent democracy in the Middle Ages and in France at the time of the Revolution. Democracy in the early years of the United States, before the signing of the Constitution, is explored in detail. |
| Contents |
The specter of government -- What is history and why does it matter? -- False friends -- Ancient Athens : wellspring of democracy -- Government and character : lessons from Athens -- The Roman republic : oligarchy with a hint of democracy -- Experiments in government : the Italian city-states -- Early voices in America -- Democracy denied -- America's early oligarchy -- Alexander Hamilton and the British connection -- Democracy affirmed : the people of Pennsylvania write a constitution -- The struggle continues : democracy vs. republicanism -- Democracy defined -- American government : the shaping of American character -- Democracy as myth -- The battlefield after the battle -- Power concealed -- Power revealed : Napoleon in myth and reality -- Darkness visible : hidden power comes to light -- The pathology of power -- The pathology of political disengagement -- Empowerment and the process of change -- The democratic process -- Democratizing the oligarchy -- The executive -- Diversity in the East -- Democracy come true -- The citizen-state. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (p. [461]-470) and index. |
| Subject |
Democracy.
|
|
Political science -- Philosophy -- History.
|
| ISBN |
9780967612768 |
|
0967612764 |
|
