Which country has had the longest continuous democracy?

Question

Could you provide a date for when your nominated country's democracy began....

When does your nominated country's democracy begin? People define democracies in different ways - what do you define democracy as?

Answer 1

The following countries claim to have the longest continuous democracies:
* The first democracy was founded by the Ancient Greeks in 508BC, but was dissolved following Roman and later Turkish invasions.
* Iceland since 930 has the oldest democratic assembly dissolved in 1430 so 500 years of continuous democracy.
* The Iriquois Nation claims 800 years as the oldest participatory democracy.
* England has had a parliament since 1265 though the monarch (unelected) has the right to block laws.
* Switzerland at the town level since 13th Century but as a nation since 1648. But only gave the right to vote to women in 1971.
* New Zealand if you include all citizens regardless of race, sex or creed since 1893
* USA
> New Jersey for landowners since 1776
> For both men and women since 1920
> For all citizens regardless of race, sex or creed since the 1960s following the civil rights movements.

Answer 2

Oldest Democracy

Answer 3

I beleive that would be America. Most European countries (ex: France, Britain etc.) are monarchies (I know I butchered the spelling of that word.) Others, like Cuba and Iran, or Communistic. A few countries are democracies as well, but I beleive the U.S. is the longest lasting Democracy.

Answer 4

The United States of America

Answer 5

France

Answer 6

Full franchise for all adults, continuous (without interruption), still the same nation - then New Zealand wins since 1893.

Answer 7

the Eu is not a democracy

Answer 8

I think it would be either Rome or Greece. If not them the United States.

Answer 9

The Netherlands, in the EU at least