2. According to Hansen.how was s Athens's political system more democrati c than democr acies we thinl k of toda y? How was it less ide mocratic?

ccording to Mogens Herman Hansen's work, Athenian democracy was more democratic than modern democracies in some ways, and less so in others.**More Democratic:*** **Direct Democracy:** Athens practiced direct democracy, meaning citizens themselves voted directly on laws and policies, rather than electing representatives to do so. Modern democracies are largely representative, where we elect officials to make decisions on our behalf. This gave Athenian citizens a much more direct and powerful voice in their government.* **Rotation of Office:** Many government positions were filled by lottery and held for short terms. This meant a wider range of citizens had the opportunity to participate directly in government, preventing power from concentrating in the hands of a political elite. Modern democracies rely on elections, which can favor those with resources and name recognition.* **Popular Courts:** Juries in Athenian courts were large and made up of ordinary citizens, chosen by lot. These juries held significant power, even over elected officials. This provided a powerful check on the power of the state and ensured accountability. Modern juries are typically much smaller and play a less central role in the legal system.* **Ostracism:** Citizens could vote to exile individuals deemed a threat to democracy, further preventing the accumulation of excessive power by any one person. Modern democracies generally lack such a direct mechanism for removing individuals from public life, relying instead on elections and impeachment processes.**Less Democratic:*** **Exclusion of Women, Slaves, and Foreigners:** A significant portion of the Athenian population was excluded from citizenship and therefore had no political rights. Women, slaves, and foreign residents, even long-term ones, could not vote, hold office, or participate in the legal system. Modern democracies, while still grappling with issues of equality, generally grant citizenship and political rights to all native-born and naturalized individuals regardless of gender or origin.* **Limited Scope of Democracy:** While Athenian democracy was radical for its time, its scope was limited to the polis (city-state) of Athens. Modern democracies typically encompass much larger populations and territories, and grapple with the complexities of representing diverse interests across a wider scale.* **Potential for Demagoguery:** The direct nature of Athenian democracy, while empowering, also made it susceptible to manipulation by skilled orators (demagogues) who could sway public opinion with emotional appeals rather than reasoned arguments. Modern democracies, while also vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation, have systems of checks and balances and representative institutions that can, in theory, mitigate these risks.* **Instability:** The Athenian system, while offering broad participation, could also be prone to instability and rapid shifts in policy depending on the prevailing public mood. Modern representative democracies, with their more structured institutions and longer electoral cycles, tend to offer greater stability, though at the potential cost of responsiveness to the popular will.