(no subject)

[tinyjo]

Alex and I were discussing something only tangentially related recently when I realised that the UK is the only country I can think of which has kind of evolved a democracy in a fairly undramatic and very gradual fashion. All the other countries about who's governmental history I know have either started as more or less democracies (e.g. America), had revolutions (e.g. France) or been pushed into it by other powers (e.g. India). I'm sure there must be others though - some of the Nordic states perhaps? Enlighten me, friends list.

Comments

Re: Also, if you look outside Europe

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

So how was that established?

Re: Also, if you look outside Europe

[applez.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the late response ...

The Iroquois Confederacy formed around a council of representatives from each tribe that joined the Confederacy. The impetus for unity was a combination of some members having relatively close language groups, and a mutual threat from the Huron, iirc. Tribal governance beneath this supra-tribal body varied, and was mostly traditional...so hardly a 'one man, one vote.' At the position of tribal representative to the Council, though - there were voting rights, iirc.

Of course, the British and French were quick to get involved the muck things up even more. Steel blades and gunpowder tend to do that.

Ah...Wikipedia corroborates some of what I remembered (whew)...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois

Indigenous American democracy, how about that. :-)

Iroquois Confederacy

[applez.livejournal.com]

http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/

Here too, if looking at alleged age.

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But to the question of a democracy evolving without drama ... given the age and pace of the Iroquois Confederacy, that could qualify. It was not a revolutionary, or post-traumatic act.

and...

[applez.livejournal.com]

Iroquois Economics, if it's of interest...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois_economics