Scholarly Works
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/323
Browse
3 results
Search Results
Item Athens and the tyranny of a democratic state(2017) Adekannbi, G. O.Democracy, the celebrated symbol of socio-political success, seems the most popular legacy of Athens to the modern world. Yet, Athens also has a record of what has been seen as tyrannical use of power and ‘abuse of human right’ in her inter-state relations. Thucydides’ account of the Peloponnesian war (The History of the Peloponnesian War) has been a basis for the theory of political realism, ‘might is right’ which is used to explain the international aggression of the democratic Athens. Using an interpretive research approach, this paper takes some look at the Athenian path to democracy and particularly considers the Melian Dialogue, a passage in Thucydides’ work that enunciates the implications of political realism exemplified by the Athenians' treatment of the Melians. While political realism implies international anarchy when power and conflicting national interests set the standard of what is deemed right, a democratic government led by this code could also act tyrannically despite its leaders 'profession of justice and equity. Therefore, the paper concludes that since democracy is no limitation to morality and justice becoming subjective, when interests are at variance in domestic politics, such tendency in individuals or groups who constitute a democracy would continue to account for political instability.Item Democracy and the people empowerment (Part II)(Department of European Languages, University of Lagos, Nigeria, 2015-04) Adekannbi, G. O.The concept, of empowerment of the people, is understood as a political process that involves the people selecting their leaders, making meaningful contributions to decision-making as members of a population and gaining absolute control over the system that produces their representatives. This artic 1 e is a continuation of 'Democracy and People Empowerment (Part I) publisher earlier, briefly reviews how power developed or was acquired by the people c: Athens. The work emphasises to what extent the non-altruistic background: the emergence of the demos as apolitical force in the Athenian direct democracy threatened the supremacy of the people. As the demos stirred the political ship c : Athens, evidence of their being manipulated by selfish elements c: undemocratic descents persisted and this ancient trend provides a parameter for explaining what sometimes undermines the empowerment of the people in modem representative democracy where broader participation is encouraged While people may have the power to thumbprint in elections or express their wishes through speeches, the article, using contemporary examples particularly from Nigeria, indicates how the 'original impetus' that is scarcely selfless continues to impede empowerment of the people. This is a picture of the power that marginalises, disenfranchises or refuses to let the power of the people out in a democracy.Item Democracy and the people empowerment (part 1)(Egbe Ifie and Contributors, 2000-12) Adekannbi, T.