РОЛЬ ПЕРИКЛА В РАЗВИТИИ ДЕМОКРАТИИ В АФИНАХ

Apply

РОЛЬ ПЕРИКЛА В РАЗВИТИИ ДЕМОКРАТИИ В АФИНАХ

Journal Title: Science Review - Year 2018, Vol 2, Issue 6

Abstract

462 year B.C is an outstanding and historical date for the history of humanity because in this year in one of the most significant city-states of Greece, particularly in Athens the democracy was born, not just as a form of state government, but also as a word. The prerequisites for formation of democracy had been existing in Greece before, because Solon, Cleisthenes and other Greek rulers had implemented reforms as a result of which people’s rule has been strengthened, the power distribution to various state institutions has been carried out, some bureaucratic mechanisms of governance have been created, but it was only during the Pericles’s epoch when the People’s Assembly was equipped with unlimited power, not representative but direct democracy was established, within which the decisions on important public issues were made solely by People’s Assembly. That is exactly why such form of state governance was called Democracy, which literally means “rule by the people”. Any political activity, which aims to change particular state formation and establish new one, requires a leader and such function in that epoch was assumed by Pericles, though we should not forget that he has not used the power which he possessed for his own well-being and he transferred it to the People’s Assembly. Pericles did not belong to the category of such political leaders, which tend to usurp the power. Besides, it should be noted, that the self-consciousness of the population of Athens in that epoch was established in such a way that it would not allow power accumulation in one person’s hands. Pericles appears not as a ruler who manipulates on Athenians by his power and fights for his own prosperity, but as Athenians weapon for strengthening democracy and equality. We know that Pericles originated from aristocratic family and he did not lack the wealth, therefore, we can conclude, that he was indeed driven by the great idea to transform Athens social-political reality. We believe that Pericles belonged to the category of leaders with specific idea. Otherwise, he would not have tried to change political system in favor of “Demos” and based on his aristocratic origin, he would have lived in bliss within the unequal, oligarchic state that had existed before. The reforms implemented during the period of Pericles rule clearly demonstrate impartiality and objectivity of Pericles; a person who wishes to use the power for his/her own benefit would not have implemented such reforms, which empower the People’s Assembly and the Council of Five Hundred; during the Pericles rule the rule of introducing and discussing draft law in the People’s Assembly was strictly defined. The strictest control on public servants and on institutions was imposed, which meant that before taking positions they had to pass the probation period, and after the end of the term of their authority they had to submit final report to the People’s Assembly. If the Pericles has been biased, he would not have introduced such strict control mechanisms; he would have appointed his own friends and trusted persons to the leading positions who would protect his interests and not that of the citizens of Athens. It was exactly the reforms implemented by Pericles, which have revived Athens. It was during his epoch when construction of Acropolis has started, greatness of which we still enjoy nowadays. The city population increased, trade reached its development culmination. In 451 year B.C based on Pericles initiative the People’s Assembly adopted a law, according to which a citizen of Athens was considered to be not a person who had just Athenian father but a person whose both parents were the citizens of Athens. He adopted this law so that he could know the exact number of the citizens of Athens in order to avoid unreasonable wasting of the benefits and privileges intended for the citizens. This reform caused decrease of number of the citizens of Athens, thus big budget savings, which enabled Athenians to start grandiose construction works. He has not used the saved amounts for his own well-being.

Authors and Affiliations

Гия Гелаевич Тугуши

Keywords

democracy; Pericle; Athens; People’s Assembly; public control.

EP ID EP398117
DOI 10.31435/rsglobal_sr/01072018/5913
Views 117
Downloads 0