Originally posted @ 3:31 pm, Mon 24th Aug 2009
Visited Runnymede – the site of the signing of the Magna Carta - proclaimed by local signs as the birthplace of modern democracy.
I think ancient Athens might have something to say about an agreement in 13th century England between the King and its barons being anything like a democracy.
And it is interesting that the memorial was actually paid for by American lawyers, who perhaps had the money to pay for it that others didn’t, and recognised the origins of their income. (And a significant number of the visitors when we were there seemed to be American.)
Notice boards at the site pick out reasons to celebrate the Magna Carta, which include –
Clauses 1 to 5 – rights of inheritance;
Clauses 9 to 11 – setting of standards for the collection of debts;
Clause 13 – liberties and freedoms for cities and boroughs;
Clauses 17 to 40 – the end of feudalism and the birth of the rule of law; including punishment to fit the crime, trial by jury, provision of a will, right of freedom under law,
Clauses 41 to 42 – the right of free and safe passage.
If the Magna Carta signed at Runnymede was the start of modern democracy, what might constitute the tests for a free society now? One list (drawn from a book by Bernard Crick) suggests the criteria to look out for in a free society are –
1. recognising society - is complex, consists of individuals, and consists of representative institutions (which can often be broadened),
2. whose ruling elite should not be exclusive, should have a large citizen body, has largely secular gov’t,
3. understands and institutionalises conflicts of interests,
4. (to a degree) does not have extremes of wealth,
5. has economic growth (at least in the long run),
6. can defend itself (diplomatically and militarily) and control its military,
7. recognises in law, custom and speculative thought the difference between “public life” and “private life” (civil liberties),
8. has a tradition of political speculation (for alternative policies that can be politically auctioned), and
9. where the governing elite acts politically.
(No particular significance in the order.)
Things to bear in mind I think, in all we do.
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