The incipit of Mary Beard’s latest:
One of the smart ideas of the ancient Athenian democracy was the system of ostracism. If the people wanted to decide between the policies of two different politicians, and they were deadlocked — they had a vote and simply exiled one of them…
More: A Dons Life by Mary Beard – Times Online – A three-cornered election: the ancient Athenian solution.
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