Are Roman Popular Assemblies Democratic? Some Arguments against Polybius

Authors:

Pages: 26-36
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/NDHT2948

Abstract:

Polybius is well-known for his Sixth book depicting the Roman state of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC as a unique mixed government combining the best elements of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. With the monarchical element represented by the two consuls, the aristocratic element projected by the Senate and popular assemblies as a democratic institution, it all seems an elaborated and logical explanation of the mid- Republican Rome. But is it true? The aim of this text is to check if the Roman popular assemblies up to the time of Polybius were really democratic in the sense of Aristotle. The narratives of Cicero, Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus do not support any notion of Aristotelian democracy in the organization and procedures of the Roman popular assemblies.

Keywords:

Polybius, Aristotle, democracy, comitia, Republican Rome.

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