Ancient Athens' democracy distinguished itself by allowing citizens direct voting on laws, using lotteries for political official selection, and employing large juries. Elections were meant for specialized roles and came with strict accountability. The principle of equality was central, with no individual or group holding power over others. Recent scholarship parallels these concepts, advocating that democracy's value lies in promoting equality. They assert that democracies must blend various institutions to prevent elites from overpowering the populace, culminating in the realization of democratic ideals like freedom of speech and rights protection.
The animating normative ideal was robust equality between all citizens. Athenian democracy was organized so that no individual or group would exercise power over the people.
Democracies typically have robust freedom of speech, the rule of law, mechanisms to contest and appeal government decisions, and relatively low levels of corruption.
To realize equality, democracies need a robust mix of institutions that will all together check the ability of economic and political elites to assert their will against the people.
A core value of democracy is that everyone's voice is equally heard and valued, ensuring no single individual or group dominates the political landscape.
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