Democracy and Participation in Athens

R. K. Sinclair (Author)

9780521423892, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 August 1991

272 pages, 3 maps
22.6 x 15 x 2.3 cm, 0.445 kg

'Sinclair … is to be congratulated for producing a consistently clear, well-argued, well-documented and balanced account which will retain its value for years.' N. R. E. Fisher, Polis

This book is concerned with the public aspects of the life of Athenian citizens in the period from c.450 to 322 BC. Its central purpose is a critical assessment of the character and extent of citizens' participation in the running of the democracy, by raising certain fundamental questions. By what means and through which institutions did Athenian citizens participate in the public life of Athens? Professor Sinclair's analysis is made from the point of view of the individual citizen - his privileges and opportunities, his responsibilities, the rewards and the dangers of exploiting the opportunities available to him.

Preface
Maps
1. The Athenian polis and the evolution of democracy
2. The privileges and the opportunities of the citizen
3. The responsibilities of the citizen
4. The sovereignty of the Demos, officials and the Council
5. Citizens and participation
6. The hazards of leadership
7. The rewards of leadership
8. The critics of Athenian democracy
Appendices
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Political structure & processes [JPH], General & world history [HBG]