On October 20, Cesare Cuttica, scholar of intellectual history gave a public lecture at the CEU-Democracy Institute on the history of criticisms against democracy as a form of organizing the state. He argued that while most histories of democracy claim that the term as well as the concept of democracy was largely forgotten after the Quattrocento and reemerged during the French and American revolutions, in fact the 17th century was also a crucial moment in the debates around democracy. This was partially thanks to the spread of periodicals which provided a forum for debates for intellectuals. In 17th century Britain democracy was criticized among other features for its cruelty (the practism of ostracism was put forward in this discourse) and as the tyranny of the “mob”.
