Iceland has had its legislative assembly, the Althing, operating
continuously since 930, and has functioned locally as a democracy since
then, despite being joined with Norway and then with Denmark for parts
of its history.
Bob W wrote:
As I said, Byzantine. You have to look at it in perspective, the United
States was only the second Republic, (semi-Democratic Federal Republic
at that), to come into existence since the fall of the Roman republic,
(a bit less than 2000 years). The only other Republic, which strangely
enough was a Federation as well, in existence at the time was
Switzerland.
There was an English republic - called the Commonwealth - from 1649 to 1660.
It wasn't particularly democratic - more of a military dictatorship - but
in theory it was run by an elected parliament.
In practice there were some very important democratic movements around at
the time, such as the Levellers. One famous group, called the Diggers, wanted
to abolish private property and hold all land in common, so they were effectively
communists. Cromwell's New Model Army was very republican and
democratically minded.
For a country built entirely on theory, interpretations of
ancient history and lots of compromise, with only one working example to
look to, it's worked surprisingly well with amazingly few changes and
corrections.
It does seem to work quite well, but it was not built entirely on
theory. Some of the major influences came from the (continuing)
struggle in England for individual rights and liberties, enshrined in
Magna Carta, the petition of rights signed by Charles I just before we
cut his head off, and the Bill of Rights of 1689 which is still law
and established some of the principles that are enshrined so memorably
in the US Constitution.
--
Daniel J. Matyola
Stanley, Powers & Matyola
78 Grove Street
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908)725-3322 (tel)
(908)707-0399 (fax)
