Democracy and the Athenians: the contemporary criticisms of the democracy from the Old Oligarch, Thucydides, Plato and Aristophanes, the charges of mob rule, incompetence and instability, and the evaluation of these criticisms.

What this dot point is asking

Athenian democracy had powerful contemporary critics, and weighing their charges is central to the option. For this option you must understand the criticisms from the Old Oligarch, Thucydides, Plato and Aristophanes, the charges of mob rule, incompetence and instability, and how to evaluate these criticisms. The paper tests precise knowledge (AO1), analysis and evaluation of sources (AO2 and AO3) and your own argument.

The answer

The Old Oligarch: rule by the worst

Thucydides and Plato: the historian and the philosopher

Two of the greatest writers offer deeper critiques:

• Thucydides, though not a simple opponent, contrasts the responsible leadership of Pericles with the demagogues who followed, and records moments of democratic folly (the volatility of the Assembly, the execution of the generals after the battle of Arginusae). His verdict on Periclean Athens, "in name a democracy but in fact ruled by its first citizen," implies the people needed firm guidance.
• Plato is the most hostile. In works such as the Republic and Gorgias he condemns democracy as a flawed regime that mistakes liberty for licence, lets the ignorant rule, and falls prey to flattery and demagoguery. He blamed the democracy for the death of Socrates, his teacher, condemned by a popular court.

Aristophanes: the comic critic

Evaluating the criticisms

The recurring charges, and how far they hold, must be weighed:

• Mob rule: the ignorant masses dominating the educated, the central oligarchic complaint.
• Incompetence: decisions made by amateurs without expertise, though key military posts were elected for that reason.
• Instability: volatile, reversible decisions (the Mytilene debate), and the oligarchic coups of 411 and 404 BC that briefly overthrew the democracy.

These criticisms identify real weaknesses, but the critics were largely hostile elites (oligarchs, philosophers, satirists). Against them, the democracy was stable for long periods, won and ran an empire, and could correct itself (the Mytilene reversal). The criticisms must therefore be evaluated critically, not simply accepted.

Examples in context

A strong 10-mark idea answer on the Old Oligarch would give its key complaints (rule by the worst, serving the masses, the link to naval power) and note its hostile bias.

Try this

Q1. Explain Plato's main objections to democracy. You must refer to specific examples. [10 marks]

• What the marker wants. AO1 with AO3: give Plato's objections (liberty as licence, rule by the ignorant, vulnerability to flattery and demagoguery, the death of Socrates) and explain his philosophical standpoint, while noting his hostility.

Q2. 'The instability of the democracy was its most serious flaw.' To what extent do you agree? [marked out of 20; real H408/34 tariff is 30]

• Cue. Argue both sides: the volatility of the Assembly and the coups of 411 and 404 show real instability, but the democracy was also stable for long periods and could correct itself. Reach a judgement supported by named examples.