Understanding The Cycles of Governments and The American Constitutional Republic

 

Understanding the cycles of governments is key to the U.S.A. survival as a world power. This post is extremely important to maintain the U.S.A. in a Constitutional Republic form of government (we are already seeing the demagogues everywhere, so the end of this democracy could happen at any time if we do not take the necessary steps to prevent it).

The Kyklos (Ancient Greek: κύκλος,IPA: [kýklos], “cycle”) is a term used by some classical Greek authors to describe what they saw as the political cycle of governments in a society. It was roughly based on the history of Greek city-states in the same period. The concept of “The Kyklos” is first elaborated in Plato’s Republic, chapters VIII and IX. Polybius calls it the anakyklosis or “anacyclosis”.

According to Polybius, who has the most fully developed version of the cycle, it rotates through the three basic forms of government, democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy and the three degenerate forms of each of these governments ochlocracy, oligarchy, and tyranny.

Originally society is in anarchy but the strongest figure emerges and sets up a monarchy. The monarch’s descendants, who because of their family’s power lack virtue, become despots and the monarchy degenerates into a tyranny. Because of the excesses of the ruler the tyranny is overthrown by the leading citizens of the state who set up an aristocracy. They too quickly forget about virtue and the state becomes an oligarchy. These oligarchs are overthrown by the people who set up a democracy. Democracy soon becomes corrupt and degenerates into mob rule, beginning the cycle anew.

All the philosophers believed that this cycling was harmful. The transitions would often be accompanied by violence and turmoil, and a good part of the cycle would be spent with the degenerate forms of government. Aristotle gave a number of options as to how the cycle could be halted or slowed:

1. Even the most minor changes to basic laws and constitutions must be opposed because over time the small changes will add up to a complete transformation.

2. In aristocracies and democracies the tenure of rulers must be kept very short to prevent them from becoming despots.

3. External threats, real or imagined, preserve internal peace.

4. The three government basic systems can be blended into one, taking the best elements of each.

5. If any one individual gains too much power, be it political, monetary, or military he should be banished from the polis.

6. Judges and magistrates must never accept money to make decisions.

7. The middle class must be large.

8. Most important to Aristotle in preserving a constitution is education: if all the citizens are aware of law, history, and the constitution they will endeavour to maintain a good government.

Polybius, by contrast, focuses on the idea of mixed government. The idea that the ideal government is one that blends elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. Aristotle mentions this notion but pays little attention to it. To Polybius it is the most important and he saw the Roman Republic as the embodiment of this mixed constitution and that this explained its stability.

Ochlocracy (“rule of the general populace”) is democracy (“rule of the people”) spoiled by demagoguery, “tyranny of the majority”, and the rule of passion over reason, just as oligarchy (“rule of a few”) is aristocracy (“rule of the best”) spoiled by corruption, and tyranny is monarchy spoiled by lack of virtue. Ochlocracy is synonymous in meaning and usage to the modern, informal term “mobocracy”, which emerged from a much more recent colloquial etymology.

The American Founding Fathers were well-versed in classical literature and the political theories of the ancient world, including the concept of the Kyklos. They were aware of the potential for governments to degenerate over time, as described by Plato, Aristotle, and Polybius.

To prevent such degeneration, they designed the U.S. Constitution with several key features:

Separation of powers

Separation of Powers: The powers of the government are divided among three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. This is a form of mixed government, which Polybius believed to be the most stable and just.

Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has the ability to check the powers of the other branches. This prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful and turning into a tyranny.

Federalism

Federalism: The power is divided between the federal government and the state governments. This prevents the accumulation of too much power at the national level and allows for local self-governance.

The Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution protect individual liberties and rights, preventing the government from becoming an ochlocracy or mob rule.

Regular Elections: Regular elections ensure that the tenure of rulers is kept short, preventing them from becoming despots, as Aristotle suggested.

These measures reflect the Founding Fathers’ understanding of the cyclical nature of governments and their desire to create a stable, enduring Constitutional Republic. However, it’s important to note that while the Founding Fathers were influenced by classical theories, they also drew upon Enlightenment ideas and their own experiences with British rule. The U.S. Constitution is thus a unique product of various influences and historical circumstances.

The American Founding Fathers drew heavily upon Enlightenment ideas and their experiences with British rule when crafting the U.S. Constitution.

1. Enlightenment Ideas: The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights. Key Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Voltaire influenced the Founding Fathers. For instance, John Locke’s ideas about life, liberty, and property and the social contract theories were foundational to the American political thought.

2. Experiences with British Rule: The Founding Fathers’ experiences under British rule, particularly their opposition to the perceived misrule of King George III and the unfairness of “taxation without representation”, played a significant role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. These experiences led to a strong emphasis on individual rights and checks and balances in the U.S. government.

3. Influence of Key Figures: Individuals like Benjamin Franklin, who embodied Enlightenment ideals with his scientific experiments and philanthropic endeavors, played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution.

4. Practical Considerations: The Founding Fathers had to overcome major disagreements between large and small states, and between Southern and Northern states, to form a stable political system. This led to key features of the Constitution, such as the bicameral legislature (the Senate and the House of Representatives) and the system of checks and balances.

In summary, the U.S. Constitution reflects a blend of classical literature, political theories of the ancient world, Enlightenment ideas, practical political considerations, and lessons learned from the experience of British rule. It represents a unique product of these various influences and historical circumstances.

Sources:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyklos