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The History of Democracy: From Ancient Athens to Present–Day

Taiwo Justice Olorunlana^1*

Abstract

From its beginnings in ancient Athens to its current uses, democracy—as a type of government—has seen major changes. This article looks at the philosophical roots, changes in institutions, and historical growth of democracy, as well as the problems that have come up over time. It talks about Athens’ direct democracy, Rome’s republican history, the rise of representative democracies during the Enlightenment, and how democratic ideas are now spread all over the world. Major events, famous thinkers, and turning points in the history of democracy are used in this study to show how strong and flexible democratic institutions are.  This research also looks at modern issues like populism, digital democracy, and the integrity of elections to figure out the future of democratic government in a world that is always connected.

Keywords:

Democracy; Ancient Athens; Representative Government; Political Philosophy; Electoral Systems; Democratic Institutions; Governance; Political Evolution; Digital Democracy; Populism.