Why did direct democracy work in Athens, but not in the United States?
Direct democracy worked in Athens during ancient times because it was a city-state with a small population where most citizens could actively participate in decision-making processes. Additionally, Athens was relatively homogeneous and had a strong sense of community, which facilitated consensus-building.
In contrast, the United States is a vast and diverse country with a large population. Direct democracy is challenging to implement on a national scale due to logistical difficulties in gathering the entire population for regular decision-making processes. Given the size and complexity of the United States, representative democracy was established where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Furthermore, Athens' direct democracy was limited to a small subset of the population (adult male citizens), excluding women, slaves, and foreign residents. In the United States, there has been a historical expansion of suffrage and inclusion of various groups, making direct democracy even more challenging to implement effectively.
Modern societies also face complex issues requiring specialized knowledge and expertise. Representative democracy allows elected officials to dedicate time and effort to understanding these complex matters and making informed decisions. In a direct democracy, the general population might lack the necessary understanding or information to make informed choices on every issue.
While direct democracy may have worked in ancient Athens, the United States has found representative democracy to be a more viable and effective form of governance given its size, diversity, and complexity.