To provide education and encouragement to help the idea of Democracy be alive, vibrant, relevant, and valued.
Please note - the posts are listed with the most recent first. If you want to start at the beginning of a numbered Series scroll down to find it.
Democracy in Greece played a part in the successful performance of Athens in the Persian wars which ended in 468. The result of the wars was an Athenian empire. But, as is often the case (or always?) with empires, there is never enough - power and wealth want more power and wealth. Power and wealth walk hand in hand becoming imbued with hubris and arrogance along the way.
Read MoreAs mentioned at the end of the prior post, the Funeral Oration of Pericles was the fullest explication of Democracy at the time and one of the most revered documents in the history of democracy.
Read MorePericles was a member of the highest ranks of the aristocracy. And, importantly, his education went considerably beyond the traditional upper class education. Here again, we will see the power of ideas in effect even in a time of near constant warfare and an emphasis on military power.
Read MoreAs per the prior post, there was much credit to give to the Athenians and their new political structure. However, the growing power and confidence and consequent hubris, began to change the Delian League as Athens progressively asserted its will on its allies.
Read MoreOver its first 40 years, the fledgling Athenian democracy was severely challenged by nearly continuous war. As part of outlining this period, I invite the reader to test the following hypothesis: While the timeframe and many other details differ, are there notable (and instructive) parallels between this period and beyond, and the first 140 years of American democracy?
Read MoreAs we have seen repeatedly, movement forward in Democracy’s development was often triggered by discord and its’ frequent consequences of violence and chaos. This continued at the end of the reign of Peisistratus (see the appearance of Democracy, birth to infancy in Greece, Part 5).
Read MoreIn this second series, I continue outlining the early years of Democracy. The prior 5-part series, The appearance of Democracy - birth to infancy in Greece, covered the development of the seeds and some saplings (750 to 500 B.C.).
This section, The appearance & construction of Democracy - childhood to maturity in Greece, moves forward in time to the growth of a fully formed tree. (500 to 322 B.C.).
Read MoreAs in other city-states, in the 7th century BC Athens was controlled by a small group of wealthy families. Unsurprisingly, the social unrest in the Greek world discussed above occurred in Athens as well. A precipitating event took place in 632 BC. Cylon, a nobleman, attempted to establish a tyranny.
Read MoreGiven the changes outlined previously, the centralized aristocracy system came under significant pressure for changes in the structure of power and societal administration. As is often the case with those holding entrenched power, the aristocracy did not respond well.
Read MoreThere is some evidence that by the middle of the 7th century BC, the polis had developed into a more formally organized system and the hereditary aristocracy was well developed and closely intermingled. However, near the end of the 7th century and the early 6th century, an era of revolutionary upheaval
Read MoreDemocracy has been described as “one of the rarest, most delicate, and fragile flowers in the jungle of human experience”(Donald Kagan, Pericles). “It has been a fleeting phenomenon in the history of government and has lain outside the experience of the vast majority of the peoples of the world down the ages.
Read MoreDemocracy is both a theory - a set of ideas and principles, and, a collective form of self-determination expressed as practices and structures.
Read MoreThe following begins a series of posts outlining and discussing the initial development of Democracy.
Read MoreWith the horror in Ukraine continuing I have been thinking about the problem of power and have added a new post: “The What and Why of Power”. See Nurture Democracy
Read MorePut simply, there is Good Power and Bad Power. We are all unavoidably driven towards both. Why this happens is essentially due to our mortality.
Read MoreUpdate from the WHO Foundation
The needs are so many and the situation so dire - here is some information on what your donations are supporting.
Read MoreIt has now been one week since Nurture Democracy started a Ukraine fundraising campaign through the World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation.
Read MoreI have started a fundraising campaign through the World Health Organization (WHO). I have set a goal of $10,000.
Read MoreDemocracy is: durable but fragile; temporal but enduring, and; imperfect but uniquely oriented towards freedom.
Read More
The graphic is a representation of citizenship and community as the foundation of Democracy. The small outer circles are either individuals or groups. These are connected to each other and to the center circle. The center circle is a community, large or small. The idea is that all are made stronger and more vital through these connections.
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