Why did democracy work in Athens but not in the United States?

The question of why democracy worked in ancient Athens but not in the United States involves a complex analysis of historical, political, and social factors. While it is subjective to determine whether democracy worked more effectively in Athens or the United States, we can examine a few key points that may shed light on the dynamics.

1. Context: Athens and the United States existed in different historical periods. Athens practiced direct democracy around the 5th century BCE, while the United States operates under a representative democracy since its founding in the late 18th century. The social, cultural, and technological contexts of these two periods significantly differ.

2. Scale and Size: Athens was a relatively small city-state with a significantly smaller population compared to the United States. This limited scale made direct participation in governance more feasible for Athenian citizens. In contrast, the United States is a vast and diverse country with millions of citizens, making direct democracy challenging to implement on a national level. Hence, representative democracy evolved as a practical solution in larger nations.

3. Citizen Participation: In Athens, only a subset of the population, adult male citizens, were directly involved in decision-making processes, while women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded. The United States, on the other hand, expanded suffrage over time, granting voting rights to various marginalized groups, such as women and racial minorities. The broader inclusivity of the American democratic system has evolved much further than ancient Athens.

4. Political Structure: Athens operated as a direct democracy, where citizens directly participated in legislative decision-making. In contrast, the United States adopted a representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This delegation of decision-making responsibilities can lead to complexities, compromises, and inefficiencies compared to the direct decision-making practiced in Athens.

5. Political Stability and Longevity: Athens' direct democracy lasted for a relatively short period before facing challenges, including corruption and instability, eventually giving way to other forms of governance. In contrast, the United States has sustained its representative democracy for over two centuries. This longevity can be attributed to numerous factors, such as a stable political structure, strong institutions, checks and balances, and a commitment to democratic ideals.

While these factors provide some insights into the question, it should be noted that comparing ancient Athens to the modern United States overlooks the vast differences in time, cultural values, technological advancements, and global dynamics. It is important to study each society's unique historical and social context to understand why certain democratic systems worked better at specific times and places.