What is the oldest democracy in the World?

Answer 1

Interesting question!

Well, I think Greece is thought of as the oldest democracy... but women and slaves couldn't vote, so not really...

You could argue that there is no true democracy without proportional representation. Just looked up oldest PR system on Wickipedia:
A proportional representation system was devised in the late 19th century, by Victor D'Hondt of Belgium. Victor Considérant, an utopian socialist, also devised the system in a 1892 book. After some Swiss cantons (beginning with Ticino in 1890), Belgium was the first country to adopt list-PR for the 1900 elections to its national parliament. Similar systems were implemented in many European countries during or after World War I. Single Transferable Vote was first used in Denmark in 1857, making STV the oldest PR system, but the system used there never really spread. STV was re-invented (apparently independently) in Britain, but the British parliament rejected it. It was, however, then used in Tasmania in 1907, and has spread from there.

Answer 2

Greek philosophers like Plato (who was hostile to the concept) described democracy.

Of all the countries in the world, Iceland has the oldest elected Parliament, over a thousand years old. The Isle of Man Parliament is very old too. However, Iceland did not become independent of Denmark until 1944.

I think the people saying New Zealand has the oldest democracy are thinking of the Parliament with the longest established universal male and female suffrage. However, no democracy is perfect. One could point out that New Zealand did not become an independent Dominion until 1931 and that it is still part of a monarchical British Commonwealth.

Answer 3

By oldest do you mean contiguous or as in ancient!

Contiguous might be Britain or even the US, but I'll wager some country out there is over 200 years old with a PArliment.

On source says it is the: Iroquois Confederacy of North East American Indians

As far as Ancient the Roman Senate is old.

But a lot of these countries had Emperors or Kings with considerable authority, thus not making them Democracy.

I think, possibly Democracy might have started with the Magna Carta as the land rulers took government into their own hands against the monarchy.

Answer 4

San Marion located in northern Italy and has been a democracy since 14Th century so its the oldest democracy the Greeks were not a democracy because they were ruled by total monarchs not Democratic elections and roman republic was a charade ruled by the aristocrats no where near a democracy.

Answer 5

The popular belief is Greece, but right now in my country they are making new archological discoveries which show a different story. The thing is that here (that is Bulgaria- north from Greece) we had Socialist government until 15 years ago, and this really interrupted any scientific research. Here people started making big settlements before the greeks and some evidence shows that democracy started here and then spread to the south. I am sure that in 10 years the Europian history will be quite different and more clear then now :)

Answer 6

Good question. I see many people have suggested Greece but the aincent Greeks were anything but democratic. They may have had the vote arguably but you were only permitted to vote if you intended to vote for the most powerful leader at the time. Democracy is actually a very recent political adherence. China may well have been the first democracy, but after them there was a gap for about 200years before it re-appeared. It's re-appearence occurred first in France I think, although some of the other European powers may have got their first.

Answer 7

I would not say Greece - Athens may be the cradle of democracy but it has not had thousands of years uninterrupted. It was ruled by Rome, Byzantium and worst of all the Ottomans so when dating Greece's democracy you would have to subtract those centuries.

Iceland has the oldest parliament, the Althing, so that might be a good guess.

Answer 8

The Greeks invented it, but I think New Zealand could be the oldest modern democracy

Answer 9

Denmark & Iceland hold the oldest 'recognizable' democracies in the world.

Answer 10

Greece