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Unraveling Democracy's Complexities: Modern Perspectives and Debates

Explore the tensions in democracy through readings on Pericles' rhetoric, Michels' "Iron Law," Weber's "Ideal Types," and Finley's critique. Delve into the challenges and contradictions of democratic governance. Who interprets Pericles best?

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Unraveling Democracy's Complexities: Modern Perspectives and Debates

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  1. Democracy and its Discontents Modern Readings in Theory 2

  2. “A certain persuasion resided on his lips, such was his magic. And he alone of speakers could leave behind a sting in his listeners.” (Eupolis Demes fr. 102 PCG, on Pericles’ rhetoric)

  3. Agenda • Advisor or “Tyrant”? • The Pericles’ Debate continued… • Democracy and its Discontents • Introduction to Issues, Texts • Three Thinkers • Michels, Weber, Finley • Discussion-Debate • Which Model Pericles? Theory Readings 2

  4. Advisor or “Tyrant”? The Pericles’ Debate continued…

  5. Democracy and its Discontents Introduction to Issues, Texts

  6. What do we learn from the late-400s, early 300s BCE Athenian experience?

  7. “Democracy and its Discontents” • Sophists • “New Politicians” • Stasis • Recovery Theory Readings 2

  8. Three Thinkers Michels, Weber, Finley

  9. “All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others.”(Orwell Animal Farm)

  10. Michels’ “Iron Law” “… every organ of the collectivity … creates for itself, as soon as it becomes consolidated, interests peculiar to itself” (353) “… the men who lead and nourish [the movement] end by undergoing a gradual detachment from the masses …” (355) Michels, Robert. Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy. Translated by Eden and Cedar Paul. New York: Free Press, 1962. Print.

  11. . . . and Athenian democracy? (Plus Ober’s critique)

  12. Weber’s “Ideal Types”

  13. Weber: “Legitimate Domination” • Legal authority (bureaucratic) • Traditional authority (theocratic) • Charismatic authority (democratic?) “Resting on devotion to … an individual person, and … patterns or order revealed/ordained by [him/her].” (215) Weber, Max. Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology. Trans. Ephraim Fischoff et al. 2 vols. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1978. Print. Theory Readings 2

  14. Charisma Democratized — How? • Authoritarian legitimation • charisma => legitimacy => recognition • Democratic legitimation • charisma => recognition => legitimacy (Weber EcSoc 266 ff.) Theory Readings 2

  15. "Plebiscitary Democracy” “. . . a variant of charismatic authority, which hides behind a legitimacy that is formally derived from the will of the governed” (268). • cf., . . . • “demagogues” • prostatai tou dēmou Theory Readings 2

  16. Finley on Charismatic Model • Athens atypical. • Weberian typology inadequate. • Demagogues rare. • Structure unstable. • Popular legitimation contradicted. . . • by elitist model. Theory Readings 2

  17. Discussion-Debate Which Model Pericles?

  18. Who Gets Pericles Best. . . • Michels? • Weber? • Finley? Theory Readings 2

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