Greek Fire: Politics

Record ID: 126736
  • Title: Greek Fire: Politics
  • Date: 29th March 1990
  • Summary: THE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER, ROUSSEAU, THOUGHT THAT DEMOCRACY WAS A GOVERNMENT FIT FOR GODS NOT MEN. NONETHELESS, IN THIS CENTRURY THERE'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY RETURN TO THE IDEALS FIRST FORMULATED BY THE ATHENIANS IN FIFTH CENTURY BC. THE ORDINARY ATHENIAN WOULD BE DISCONCERTED TO MEET THE MANY HEADS OF GOVERNMENT WHO, TWO HUNDRED YEARS AFTER THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, GATHERED IN PARIS TO PAY HOMAGE TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES. THE MORE HE LEARNT OF THEIR STYLEOF GOVERNMENT, THE PUZZLED HE WOULD BE. FOR WITH THE SINGULAR EXCEPTION OF SWITZERLAND, WHERE ASSEMBLIES ARE HELD, IN WHICH EVERY CITIZEN CAN DEBATE AND VOTE IN PERSON, OUR POLICTICAL SYSTEMS ARE CENTRALISED, AUTHORITARIAN AND IMPERSONAL. THE GREAT QUESTION FROM MODERN DEMOCRACIES IS HOW TO RECONCILE LIBERTY WITH GOVERNMENT. UNLIKE THE GREEKS OUR RHETORIC IS OF RIGHTS NOT RESPONSIBILITIES. PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME FOR 20TH CENTURY VOTERS TO REFER BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF 5TH CENTURY ATHENS.
  • Description:TEN HALF HOUR PROGRAMMES LOOKING AT GREEK CIVILISATION AND HOW IT HAS SHAPED THE WAY WE LIVE NOW.
  • Broadcaster:Channel 4
  • Collection: Channel 4
  • Genre:Documentary and Factual
  • Producer:TRANSATLANTIC FILMS LTD
  • Programme Episode:Episode 6
  • Transmission Date:29/03/1990
  • Rights:On Request
  • Decade: 1990s
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