Introduction to American Politics Discussion
Institution Affiliation
Date
The basic understanding of democracy is linked to the concept of a government system whereby laws, policies, leadership, and other significant dealings of a country or state are decided or determined by people directly or indirectly. But to understand this further, it is essential to know where and how democracy developed. General understanding of its origin or development that it was first introduced in Athens by Cleisthenes. However, in chapter 2, Dahl disagrees with this principle and concept of the development or origin of democracy. I agree as it is stated that it is a mistake to assume democracy was developed or invented once like the steam engine. I believe due to the rise and decline of early governments in Rome show no steady rise in their form of democracy. What I view as logical is the indication that democracy can be invented and reinvented separately (Dahl, 2008). This is because different places present different conditions for the invention and reinvention of democracy.
The conditions right for the invention of democracy in one place may not be favorable for a different place and time. Democracy is developed where the right conditions are present, and this can be in another place and time. Despite this concept, I noted that Dahl, in this become agrees and states that around 500 B.C.E favorable conditions were established in several areas and small groups of people started democratic governments. Notable developments of democracy were developed in Europe and along the Mediterranean coast, according to Dahl. According to Dahl, I understand the basis of democracy that there should be favorable conditions present to develop democracy. Even I figured out from this reading that robust and more advanced democracy started about 500 B.C.E, It is still difficult to determine the exact time and place where democracy developed. This is because different areas present different conditions at different times that favor where and how democracy is developed and also what is referred to as logical equality.
References
Dahl, R. A. (2008). On democracy. Yale university press.
Response to Classmate’s Post
In this context, I, too, agree with you that democracy can be invented independently and reinvented. This is because, as Dahl states, these favorable conditions that favor the development of democracy appear in different places at different times, and they are not necessarily similar. Where the Vikings to their practices to Iceland, I think it shows that some of these conditions are transferrable but are strongly enhanced by the logic of equality. It is true also that certain concepts and aspects such as monarchs and political parties are not favorable for democracy. These are some of the reasons that led to centralized monarchies reversing or causing the decline of the earlier advances to democracy.