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IIRC ancient Athens was a direct democracy, which the Netherlands are not (and is technically a constitutional monarchy). Liechtenstein and some Swiss cantons
by sph 1y ago
IIRC ancient Athens was a direct democracy, which the Netherlands are not (and is technically a constitutional monarchy).
Liechtenstein and some Swiss cantons are the few remaining examples of direct democracy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy#Examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy#Examples
- ImJamal 1y agoIf Athens is legitimately a democracy then I am confused how you can come to the conclusion "one thing is for certain, a democracy can't be authoritarian by definition." Athens killed Socrates using an authoritarian law after all.
- sph 1y agoI think we're using two different meaning of authoritarianism. It means both "undemocratic/rule of the few" (my statement) and tyrannical (your position). Any state, democracy included, can be a tyrant (i.e. cruel and oppressive) against its perceived enemies.