What if ancient Greece hadn't invented the early version of democracy?

[Masada]

I don't think it matters a whit.

 

[Agent327]

Actually, it does. If ancient Greece hadn't "invented" the early version of democracy, then nothing. However, the republican form of government had quite a few later applications, right up to the present day. Most modern democracies did not become such until the 20th century; before that they were merely republics. Modern democracies aren't based on the Athenian city state example (that would be most unpractical); nor did they come about with that example in mind (as they are representative, whereas the Athenian city state type was direct - to a point). Popular pressure is what created the modern democracy type.

 

[Masada]

So in other words: it doesn't matter a whit.

 

[Agent327]

Umm no. The whole post was about the fact that it does matter quite a whit - not just to the historically-minded, but to anyone with an interest in democracy and/or republic.

 

[Traitorfish]

What relationship are you imagining between classical and modern republics, beyond the fact that we happen to refer to them both as "republics"? That seems crucial to the case you're putting forward, but it's not very clear.