Reading and misreading the ancient evidence for democratic peace

Article Abstract:

This article explores the notion of democratic peace, the idea that democracies do not fight one another, by looking at Classical Greece and questions the manner in which scholars handle this evidence. The author argues that the ancient world is not an appropriate era for investigation into democratic peace, using the Peloponnesian war as an example of war between democracies; finally, focusing on the differences between modern and ancient democracies and their settings the factors that may discourage or encourage democratic peace may be explicated.

Greece, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Philosophy, Ancient, Ancient philosophy

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Remarks on the ancient evidence for democratic peace

Article Abstract:

This article explores the concept of democratic peace by examining historical examples, focusing on ancient Greece and its war against Syracuse, which was also a democratic state. The author argues that Athens did not consider Syracuse a democracy like its own, thereby justifying invasion, and making the case for the concept of democratic peace which claims that democracies do not fight each other; modern parallels are drawn.

Civilization, Ancient, Ancient civilization

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Response to Spencer Weart

Article Abstract:

This article discusses the concept of democratic peace being historically unsupportable. Issues include the works of Thucydides as supporting this concept, the lack of evidence that Athens did not consider Syracuse a democracy, and the inability to demonstrate that ancient oligarchies maintained peaceful relations.

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