History of Democracy and the Development of Citizenship
The Origins of Democracy and Citizenship in Ancient Athens
The individuals who first received the formal title of citizens were the inhabitants of the polis of Athens, which is the current capital of Greece. This development occurred during the century BC, marking the birth of democracy. This specific form of government was defined by its primary characteristic: the direct participation of citizens in the governance and administration of the city-state. In this system, those deemed citizens were expected to engage directly in public affairs rather than through representatives.
The Structure of Citizenship and Social Exclusion in the Athenian Polis
Under Athenian democracy, the criteria for attaining the status of citizen were extremely specific and restrictive. Citizenship was granted exclusively to males who were the sons of both an Athenian father and an Athenian mother. Consequently, only a very small percentage of the total population was actually considered citizens. The majority of the residents, including women, children, slaves, and foreigners, were entirely excluded from this category. This exclusion meant that these groups were not permitted to participate in the assemblies or take part in any public matters. For slaves in particular, the legal and social system failed to recognize them as having any type of rights whatsoever.
The Transition to Modern National States and Monarchical Absolutism
As history moved into the Modern Age, the political structure of Europe shifted with the creation of national States and the rise of monarchical absolutism. During this era, European crowns concentrated all facets of governing power within the monarchy itself. This centralized authority allowed monarchs to establish laws, manage their territories, and dictate justice unilaterally. This exercise of power was characterized by a lack of institutional control or oversight, meaning the monarch could rule without being accountable to any other body or set of predetermined regulations.
Political Revolutions and the Rise of Parliamentary Systems
In reaction to the totalizing power of absolute monarchs, the and centuries were marked by a series of significant political revolutions across Europe. A definitive example of these movements was the French Revolution, which occurred in . These revolutions effectively brought an end to the power of absolute monarchs by establishing new deliberative assemblies known as parliaments. These parliaments took over the responsibility of creating laws for the State. Crucially, the members of these parliamentary bodies were chosen through the process of voting, shifting the source of political legitimacy. Parliaments are defined as deliberative assemblies where legislation is debated and passed by elected representatives.