When people talk about “Democracy” I get confused…

Sometimes… People will talk about Democracy, and I will not know if they are coming from the classical notion, or the modern notion. You see…

*This table is from an article on Aristotle and Nation building, from The Royal Military of Canada’s Journal of Conflict Studies.

 

What is called Democracy today is politeia or a polity. However, the term democracy is used, sometimes even in classical works (coz the greeks would have called it politea right? but what if youre reading an english translation?!? So which is it ??? Arg!).

So its annoying… Please people… Say if you mean Demos-kratien (People-power/mob rule of the masses) or the modern Democracy concept (politea).