How to Mix Monarchy with Democracy

Precepts from Roman History

Abstract

The article deals with several aspects of the theory of mixed government (mixed constitution), given that many scholars, including Max Weber, considered such phenomenon of modern political systems as Ceasarism to be a mix of monarchy and democracy. In the beginning an analysis of a famous statement from the “Roman History” of Cassius Dio (who wrote that Augustus has “mixed monarchy with democracy”) is provided. Such terms from Ancient Greek as demokratia and monarchia had a very specific meaning during the time of writing of this book, i.e. 220–230 CE. But apart from studying the peculiarities of the historical meanings of the terms used to designate these forms of rule what is important is also how their juxtaposition or mixing was theorized. The article studies different terms used in such interpretations. Briefly, the term krasis meant a fusion of the components and thus a creation of a new substance with new qualities and homogeneity, while the term mixis could also mean that the components of the mixture retained their distinct existence, though acquiring an ability to influence each other. The second version of conceptualizing mixes eventually served as the basis for a famous theory of checks and balances within a political regime. Thus Dio, one could argue, uses the term mixis rather than krasis — and this makes his different from the other authors of the school of the Second Sophistic — because he wants to stress that one form of rule should check and balance another form, and they should not constitute a total fusion within a uniform political regime. In the end of th article, the conceptual vocabulary of Dio is tested in its felicity while describing present day political phenomena.