Aristotle, Citizenship, and the Question of Status In Modern “Democracies”
Under the Aristotelian framework, the political participation of individuals within modern representative democracies does not constitute true citizenship. The vast majority of those now considered to be citizens would, under Aristotle’s model, be more aptly described as resident aliens, true citizenry only being enjoyed by the class of elected officials. This article suggests representative democracy to be a system closer to aristocracy or oligarchy.
