The Role of City States in Shaping Democratic Thought

Written by: Muhammed Guney Aydemir

City-States, city-centered political units that function independently with their geographical boundaries, political institutions, and social order, provide a critical conceptual foundation for understanding the origins of democracy. This political form, which emerged particularly in the Greek world in Ancient times, allowed for the emergence of another understanding of citizenship and governance compared to the large kingdoms.. For instance Atina,  a City-State has contributed to the initial redefining of the concepts of “people” and “citizenship” by its reforms.

Participation and Institutional Diversity in City-States

In the current examples of City-states, participation, representation, and institutional diversity are strongly connected. For example in Singapore, the voting rate in elections is around  90% (In 2020, this rate reached 95,8%) because of the voting obligation, while in Monaco, the voting rate decreased to 57,3% in the 2023 elections because of the single list system. Another attractive element in these little political institutions is the increasing role of women in the democratic process. In the San Marino example, after the 2024 elections, women's representation in parliament reached approximately 30% , which approaches European countries and shows the country’s progress on inclusive representation. These developments show that women are more visible in the decision-making process in City-states. (Beveridge, R., & Koch, P., 2024)

 Pic 1: Female representation in city-state parliaments 

The Connection Between Economic Autonomy and Democracy 

In City states one of the most important elements determining democratic structure is their economic autonomy. Economic independence ensures that these small political units remain relatively insulated from external pressures in the decision-making process. For Instance, Singapore has made its economic power the basis of political stability by being one of the richest countries in the world, with an income of over 87,000 dollars per person. Also in Monaco, a strong economy based on finance, tourism and luxury service sectors allows to government to provide inclusive social services to the citizens and it has limited political polarization. These examples demonstrate that city-states used their economic resilience not only as an indicator of prosperity but also as a safety net that ensured the continuity of the democratic order. (Tridimas, G., 2019)

Participatory Identity and Development of Civic Culture

One of the City states’ most lasting contributions to democracy is creating a strong civic culture. In these societies, citizenship is not lived as only a status, but also as an active ID. As an example, in Singapore “National Education” program ,has been integrated into the education system, purpose that citizens grow as individuals who question government policies, but at the same time are aware of public responsibility.In San Marino, citizens frequently participate in referendums and referendums, and the 2021 referendum decision to legalize abortion clearly demonstrated the public's direct influence on the political process . These examples show that democratic consciousness is more deeply ingrained in city-states where participation is not limited to election days but is a part of daily life. Furthermore, the small populations of city-states foster a strong sense of community and a mechanism for mutual oversight

Among citizens. This makes citizens more sensitive to and demanding of governmental processes. For example, in Monaco, every citizen has direct access to the individuals or institutions governing the state; this transcends representation and embodies the concept of "visible democracy." Similarly, in San Marino, the six-monthly renewal of the executive branch not only maintains political stability but also maintains citizens' interest in governance. Thereby, the narrow geography and frequently interacting social structures of city-states enable democratic culture to transcend from an abstract principle into a daily practice. (Hansen, M. H., 1991)

The Role of Technology and Digital Participation

One of the most innovative elements city-states have introduced to democracy today is digital participation.Singapore stands out as a leader example in this area; through its "Smart Nation" program,citizens have been able to access public services through digital platforms , and feedback and suggestions regarding government can be submitted directly to government portals. San Marino has also expanded online voting and e-government services by 2023, accelerating the participation of its small population in decision-making processes. This technological transformation has transformed democracy in city-states into a system that lives not only in physical spaces but also in digital spaces. This has made participation more inclusive, transparent, and instantaneous, and communication between citizens and the state has reached a level still not fully achieved in most modern democracies.(Hansen, M. H., & Nielsen, T. H., 2004)

CONCLUSİON

Historical examples of city States show that democracy is not simply a form of government,but a way of life constantly reshaped by scale , culture, and technology. These small political units provide democracy in the modern world. Beyond participation, representation, and accountability, they elevate the relationship between citizens and the state to a more personal, visible, and experiential level. In fact, the significance of city-states lies not in their being perfect democracies, but in their vivid demonstration of how democracy can evolve. They are not models for contemporary politics, but rather a reminder: the essence of democracy lies not in institutions, but in people in constant interaction. (Ober, J., 2008)

References

• Beveridge, R., & Koch, P. (2024). Seeing democracy like a city: The city as a horizon of democracy distinct from nation-state institutions. Dialogues in Urban Research, 2

• Tridimas, G. (2019). Democracy without political parties: The case of ancient Athens. Journal of Institutional Economics, 16

• Hansen, M. H. (1991). The Athenian democracy in the age of Demosthenes. Blackwell Publishers.

• Hansen, M. H., & Nielsen, T. H. (2004). An inventory of archaic and classical poleis. Oxford University Press.

• Ober, J. (2008). Democracy and knowledge: Innovation and learning in classical Athens. Princeton University Press.