Overview
1). At the beginning of the 19th century there was just one Democratic state in the world (the United States). Fast forward to 2022, and (according to Freedom House) there are over 100 electoral democracies on the planet. We live in a world where the majority of countries are governed under democratic principles. This is good news. Having said this, critics have long argued that the dominant form of democracy in the modern world is rather Indirect – and is, in fact, less democratic than it could be. What do you make of this debate? Making reference to the American and Athenian political systems, is the indirect democracy of the modern era the most democratic form of democracy possible? Can the way in which democracy is practiced be more democratic than it is at present? If so, how? Should modern democracy be more direct in practice?