The Shortest History of Democracy

The Shortest History of Democracy

In a time of grave uncertainty about the future of our planet, the radical potential of democracy is more important than ever.


From its beginnings in Syria-Mesopotamia – and not Athens – to its role in fomenting revolutionary fervour in France and America, democracy has subverted fixed ways of deciding who should enjoy power and privilege, and why. Democracy encourages people to do something radical: to come together as equals, to determine their own lives and futures.


In this vigorous, illuminating history, acclaimed political thinker John Keane traces its Byzantine history, from the age of assembly democracy in Athens, to European-inspired electoral democracy and the birth of representative government, to our age of monitory democracy. He gives new reasons why democracy is a precious global ideal and shows that as the world has come to be shaped by democracy, it has grown more worldly – American-style liberal democracy is giving way to regional varieties with a local character in places such as Taiwan, India, Senegal and South Africa.


In an age of cascading crises, we need the radical potential of democracy more than ever. Does it have a future, or will the demagogues and despots win? We are about to find out.


Produced by Hannah Ward

Mixed and Mastered by Dougal Patmore


If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(1498)

How Did Humans Take Over the World?

How Did Humans Take Over the World?

Humans are everywhere. How did we get from the savannahs of Africa across to the most northern reaches of Alaska and Greenland, to the outbacks of Australia and the islands of the Pacific millennia ag...

12 Juni 202539min

The Ultimate Mesopotamian Mystery

The Ultimate Mesopotamian Mystery

For thousands of years, ancient cuneiform - the script of the ancient Mesopotamians was lost to time, until being dramatically rediscovered in the 19th century by an adventurous group of unlikely Vict...

10 Juni 202538min

How the Nazis Escaped Germany

How the Nazis Escaped Germany

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 some of its most egregious war criminals sought to escape justice by fleeing Europe, most famously to South America. The escape routes they used, establish...

8 Juni 202546min

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

The Romans built an empire that reshaped the world through brutal wars, brilliant strategy, and even the power of the pen. From the blood-soaked battlefields to the marble halls of Rome, a few towerin...

5 Juni 202556min

Disasters in the Age of Discovery

Disasters in the Age of Discovery

The dawn of the age of European exploration in the 16th century was absurdly dangerous. Crews on the ships of Christopher Columbus, Vasco De Gama and Ferdinand Magellan often sailed blind into unchart...

3 Juni 202546min

The Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire

The Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire

Was this the world’s first empire? To uncover the story of ancient history's most formidable powers, Dan is joined by Yale University’s Professor Eckart Frahm to explore Assyria’s military machine, it...

1 Juni 202548min

Why do India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir?

Why do India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir?

A dive into the history behind today's tensions. In this episode, Dan is joined by historian and journalist Andrew Whitehead to explain the historical context behind the ongoing conflict between India...

29 Maj 202545min

How Did Genghis Khan Change the World?

How Did Genghis Khan Change the World?

Genghis Khan reshaped the world with brutal force and brilliant organisation. He began life in exile and rose to be a powerful nomadic warrior who united the disparate Mongol tribes to create the larg...

27 Maj 202533min

Populärt inom Historia

massmordarpodden
kod-katastrof
p3-historia
historiska-brott
motiv
olosta-mord
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-historien-om
rss-seriemordarpodden
rss-brottsligt
historiepodden-se
rss-massmordarpodden
krigshistoriepodden
rss-historiska-brottslingar
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
militarhistoriepodden
nu-blir-det-historia
rss-arkiv-stieg
palmemordet
vetenskapsradion-historia