Democracy. The History of One Ideology

Luciano Canfora - an outstanding Italian historian and classical philologist, professor at the University of Bari, scientific coordinator of the School of Historical Sciences in San Marino. A recognized expert in ancient culture, an active proponent of the interdisciplinary research method; his works have repeatedly become the subject of heated debates in the scientific community, and this book is no exception. "The theme of this book is the study of centuries-old attempts, endlessly repeating, each different in methods and premises, to bring to life - on the European continent, where the problem was first raised - 'popular sovereignty', that is, democracy. And at the same time - in the study of countermeasures and antidotes intended to confront it: from the stratagems of ancient oligarchs to an effective means with a long tradition and exceptional vitality: we call it 'mixed system'. And also, inevitably, - in the study of the phenomenon, key to any society and any state-political model: the incessant generation of a ruling elite, which conquers positions all the faster and more effectively, the more 'democratic' the nature of its power is recognized." Luciano Canfora