In Search of Democracy

This 1 hour documentary series is a journey of discovery spanning two epochs in time and seeks to explore what democracy is, where it came from, and what it offers in the pursuit of the good life.

 

It's broken down into 13 chapters to easily view online and used to teach an 'Introduction to Democracy' in Schools and Universities around Australia.

​

Written, Produced and Presented by Chris Mamo

Part 1: How Democratic is Australia?

 

Australia is one of the most progressive democracies in the world, but there’s a gentle reminder of a colonial past which was anything but a democracy. Expert opinions from Professor Stephen Stockwell and Professor John Keane on the origins and  ‘Secret History’ of democracy, the idea that democratic ideals flourished before Athens, a heavily debated concept.

Part 2: Comparing Ancient Greek Direct Democracy with Representative Democracy Today.

 

Dr David Pritchard outlines the key ideals between ‘Direct Democracy’ in Ancient Athens, and ‘Representative Democracy’ in Australia today. It also looks at the triggers to democracy in Ancient Greece. The people of Athens had enough of the ‘bad behaviour’ of the upper class and the need for magistracies. The introduction of long sea trade, the introduction of coinage, the development of a linear script and the civil understanding of small city states also created an ideal place for democracy.

Part 3: Reformers: Dracon, Solon and Cliesthenes

 

Solon outlawed many of Dracon’s ‘Draconian’ laws such as debt bondage. He strengthened laws on Homocide and instituted the first jury courts. Disputes were dealt with through legal means rather than violence. He also divided the population into 4 census classes based on their ability to produce income form their land and their contribution to the military.

The reforms continue with Piesastratos, but his sons Hippias and Hipparchus rule unjustly and Cliesthenes became the new ruler. He is regarded as the founder of democracy in Ancient Athens. Cliesthenes abolished solon’s 4 classes and creates 10 tribes, or regions based on electorates instead of class and named them after great Athenian Heroes, then 10 demes in each tribe which formed the idea of local government. Tribes elected members to a council called the Boule. All public business was held in the Assembly. At the end of the day the people of Athens stood up and said ”We want a role on the governing of our city”. Ostracon and Ostracism established to add a system of checks and balances to the 2 key players in government.

Part 4: The Peak of Democracy: Pericles Vision and the Death of Democracy

 

Pericles was a statesman that kept his post for over 30 years. The Building of the Acropolis was one of his finest achievements. Pericles owed his position to the power of his Oratory: Rhetoric and Public Speaking became a major part of the political process.

 

The views of famous philosophers, Plato, Aristotle and Socrates are noted. The downside of democracy included slavery, mobocracy and the fact that non citizens and women were excluded. The final blow was the waging of war and more importantly,  the inability of Athens to defend themselves from the new kid on the block, Alexander the Great!

Part 5: Rome, Renaissance and  Revolution.

 

Democracy fails in ancient Athens, and is lost for 2500 years. This section looks at the transition from Rome, the Dark ages, Middle Ages and the Renaissance with writing from philosophers such as John Locke and Jean Jaques Rousseau. These writings were heavily influential in the American and French Revolutions. This section deals with Feudalism, social contracts and natural rights.

Part 6:  The Colonisation of Australia

​

The transition from a penal colony to one of the most progressive democracies in the world. Life was tough on the new colony, penalties were harsh, and the conditions almost unbearable.  Dr John Hirst explains that it certainly was not a democracy, but it wasn’t a lawless society either, there was still the rule of law.

 

“Convict society came out of Britain which was the most advanced society in regards to representative government, certainly not democratic government!”

 

You could vote, but you had to have the right amount of land, and you had to be a man.

This paved the way for democratic reforms, similar to what happened in ancient Athens with people rising up against restrictive governments such as ‘The Eureka Stockade’ and the Labor movement to reform working conditions and equal voting.

Part 7: The Federation of Australia

​

Australia become a federation of states, and in turn one of the most democratic countries in the world, but still falls short of equality for all.

 

Professor Helen Irving outlines the Australian Constitution and talks about how democratic it really is. In its time, 1901 it was a ‘state of the art’, the most democratic constitution in the world. Professor Irving also highlights the shortcoming such as the exclusion of women and coloured people.

Part 8: How Democratic is Australia?

​

Professor John Kilcullen highlights that calling Australia a Democracy is stretching the word.

Australia is a Constitutional Monarchy, we have the Queen of England as our head of state.

 

The Australian system of government is explained, and outlines the ‘Westminster’ system of government. Professor Kilcullen and Professor Irving highlight the democratic and undemocratic aspects of this system of government.

Part 9: How far is our democracy from Athenian democracy?

​

Professor Kilcullen and Dr Hirst relate back to Athenian democracy and explain how we could add elements to make involvement more direct.

Part 10: Cynicism

​

Professor Stockwell talks about the cynicism of our democracy, especially due to the distance between the people and out politicians. Professor Keane sees a ‘Bad Moon’ rising over democracy, and Dr John Hirst sees politician as an in house tight group of keen types.

Part 11: The Politics of Democracy in Australia.

 

In this section I give the politicians a right to reply. I interview people from many spectrums of the Political process and ask them why they entered politics. Dr Peter McDonald, Former Mayor of Manly and Independent for NSW, Bob Mcmullen Labor Member for Fraser ACT, Senator Gary Humphries LNP senate ACT and Carla Brandon Greens Candidate for Southport QLD. It covers what democracy offers in the pursuit of the good life and the role of the public as well as the politicians.

Part 12: Empowering the Citizen

 

Democracy is fragile and needs participation form its citizens. Participation leads to empowerment. Professor Stockwell highlights the need for education and how the electoral process is the most powerful opportunity to exercise your democratic rights. Ordinary people can organize like-minded people to pursue a political goal. “ Democracy cannot guarantee good government, but gee it’s good at getting rid of bad governments!” Stockwell 2006 Professor Keane talks about The equality of democracy, and how Democracy is the denaturing of power. Senator Humphries points out that democracy in its best sense, creates a good civil society where people have opportunities to flourish.

Part 13: The Fragility of Democracy

 

Professor Stockwell highlights the need for further participation, and the reduction of apathy to the political process. Professor Killcullen talks about deliberative polling where people simply communicate with each other for better outcomes, Dr Hirst talks about the use of technology to enhance the democratic process and Dr Pritchard sums up the idea that we need to active, ask questions, engage in public conversations similar to the Ancient Athenians, and finally; ”Democracy is not about politics, it’s about people like you and I that can really make a difference”.