Athenian political thought and the reconstruction of American democracy /

Over the years, many have perceived the democracy of ancient Athens as the political model for the United States-a perspective often advanced without a great deal of critical insight or reflection. This impressive collection of scholarly essays carefully examines the nature of the Athenian polis and pursues such perennial issues as the citizen's role and the nature of education in a democracy. The degree to which and the manner in which Athenian political thought and practice can inform our understanding of our own political system remains open to debate. However, the nexus between education and democracy is a crucial one, and this finely crafted work challenges the serious reader to confront the current condition of and future prospects for the American polity. Recommended especially for scholars in the field and graduate libraries.-Stephen Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Coll., Nampa, Id. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.