This book explores the intriguing idea that there is much more democracy in human history than is generally acknowledged. It establishes that democracy was developing across greater Asia before classical Athens, clung on during the 'Dark Ages', often formed part of indigenous governance and is developing today in unexpected ways.

This book explores the intriguing idea that there is much more democracy in human history than is generally acknowledged. It establishes that democracy was developing across greater Asia before classical Athens, clung on during the 'Dark Ages', often formed part of indigenous governance and is developing today in unexpected ways.

Introduction: Democracy and History PART I: PRE-ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY What is so 'Primitive' about 'Primitive Democracy'? Comparing the Ancient Middle East and Classical Athens; B.Isakhan Before Athens: Early Popular Government in Phoenicia and Greek City States; S.Stockwell Republics and Quasi-Democratic Institutions in Ancient India; S .Muhlberger Digging for Democracy in China; P.Keating PART II: DEMOCRACY IN THE 'DARK AGES' Behind a Veil: Islam's Democratic History; M.Abdalla & H.Rane Ideals and Aspirations: Democracy and Law-Making in Medieval Iceland; P.P.Boulhosa Democratic Culture in the Early Venetian Republic; S.Stockwell PARR III: INDIGENOUS DEMOCRACY AND COLONIALISM Africa's Indigenous Democracies: The Baganda of Uganda; I.Kizza The Hunters who Owned Themselves; P.Paine Aboriginal Australia and Democracy: Old Traditions, New Challenges; L.Behrendt The Pre-History of the Post-Apartheid Settlement: Non-Racial Democracy in South Africa's Cape Colony, 1853-1936; P.Fry PART IV: ALTERNATIVE CURRENTS IN MODERN DEMOCRACY Birthing Democracy: The Role of Women in the Democratic Discourse of the Middle East; K.L.Gandolfo The Streets of Iraq: Protests and Democracy after Saddam; B. Isakhan Monitory Democracy? The Secret History of Democracy Since 1945; J.Keane Conclusion: Democratizing the History of Democracy;  B.Isakhan  & S.Stockwell