Why did direct democracy work more easily in ancient city-states than in modern countries?

Direct democracy functioned more easily in ancient city-states like Athens primarily due to their smaller scale, which allowed for assembly-based decision-making. In these ancient systems, the Ecclesia—an assembly of citizens—could physically gather to deliberate and vote on policy directly.12

In contrast, modern countries face significant logistical challenges regarding time and space that make pure assembly democracy impractical. Because modern states are vastly larger and more complex, they rely on representative democracy to manage governance. In this system, citizens delegate decision-making power to elected officials who have the capacity for informed, expert judgment and the ability to handle complex, coherent programs.13

While direct democracy is no longer a full-scale alternative to representative systems in modern nations, it is often utilized as a supplement. Instruments such as referenda and citizens' initiatives allow for public participation on specific issues, helping to balance the power structures of representative government and ensuring that popular sovereignty remains a fundamental force in the political system.13