Ekklesia

Discussion

Paul B. Hartzog:

"First, I will examine the Athenian ideal as exemplified in its most powerful body, the Ekklesia. This Ekklesia, or assembly, was for Athens the ultimate expression of its faith in direct democracy, of the polis’ ability to justly and wisely direct the affairs of the community. Through an exploration of numerous facets of direct democracy and modern computer-mediated communications (CMC) – enacted via cell-phones, the Internet, etc. – I argue that there exists now an opportunity for the establishment of an ekklesia, an online electronic assembly, of always connected citizens, perpetually participating in the governance of the community, and that such an e-kklesia can be a much more exact and effective realization of the Athenian ideal than even occurred in Athens itself."

(http://www.panarchy.com/Members/PaulBHartzog/Papers/The%20e-kklesia.pdf)