Power & the People: Five Lessons from the Birthplace of Democracy
Alev Scott, Andronike Makres
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Democracy was born in Athens. From its founding myths to its golden age and its chaotic downfall, it's rich with lessons for our own times.
Why did vital civil engagement and fair debate descend into paralysis and populism? Can we compare Creon to Trump, Demokratia to the American Constitution or Demosthenes' On the Crown to the Brexit campaign? And how did a second referenda save the Athenians from a bloodthirsty decision?
With verve and acuity, the heroics and the critics of Athenian democracy are brought to bear on today's politics, revealing in all its glories and its flaws the system that still survives to execute the power of the people.
Read MorePraise for Power & the People: Five Lessons from the Birthplace of Democracy
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A lovely, lyrical and always insightful account that is as much about the present as the past. A joy from start to finish. - Peter Frankopan, on Ottoman OdysseyBeautifully written with clear-eyed judgements and a sharp ear for fascinating anecdote and memorable characters. Exhilarating and often eye-opening, it shows this crucial region of the world from a new perspective. Essential reading for anyone interested in Turkey and its history. - Michael Wood, on Ottoman OdysseyShe writes with a maturity and insight that belies her age, and is surely a rising star of the literary world. - Saul David, Telegraph, on Ottoman Odyssey
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