Understanding Aristotle's View on Politics

Aristotle’s Politics
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Aristotle’s Politics
Every country has citizens who constitute people ruled by elected political leaders. However, Aristotle’s Politics Book 3 portrays that individuals considered citizens in a democratic government might not be perceived in an oligarchy. The word citizen emanated from the city. Traditionally, a city was considered as a multitude of citizens. In other words, it meant people residing in a specific nation. That is why Aristotle says that the definition of citizens in a democratic country is different from that in an oligarchy. Citizens are crucial since they contribute to how the government functions and works. For example, in a democratic government, citizens are the ones who determine and elect their leaders. Democracy usually means the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. When it comes to other forms of government, such as oligarchy, individuals in power must pay attention to the needs of their citizens despite being not elected by them. A citizen can be defined as an individual whose both parents are citizens of a particular country, and these people significantly contribute to the way the government functions and works.
A city comprises citizens since Aristotle made it clear that a city refers to the multitude of citizens (Aristotle’s Politics Book 3). In simple terms, residents of a specific town are known as citizens. All countries, regardless of whether they have a democratic or oligarchy form of government, have citizens. Nations consist of cities. In that light, it can be said that numerous cities form a country. These cities have a multitude of people residing there who are considered citizens. Therefore, citizens are people who belong to a particular nation since they are born by both parents who are already citizens. Aristotle makes it clear that one is not a citizen if one of the parents is a non-citizen. Notably, both parents must be citizens of a particular nation for a person born to be considered a citizen. In numerous countries today, people are considered citizens using different criteria. For instance, children born by one parent who is a citizen of a particular nation become citizens by birth automatically. Similarly, a child becomes a citizen when born by both parents who are citizens. Moreover, individuals can become citizens of a particular nation through marriage or naturalization. Nevertheless, various requirements should be met, which depend on the state, before people become citizens using other methods apart from birth.
Aliens, slaves, or inhabitants of a particular country are not citizens. Aristotle is clear that these individuals are disregarded as citizens. Specifically, sharing habitation with citizens does not make individuals citizens automatically (Aristotle’s Politics Book 3). In matters of justice, these people are considered non-citizens, and they live under specific rules. Contractual agreements are the ones that make individuals reside in a particular nation without being citizens. For example, some people migrate to other countries to search for jobs or to study. In that case, these individuals stay in the foreign country because of their career or education. When they complete their mission, they are expected to return to their country. Individuals must adhere to certain conditions and requirements for them to become citizens if they are not born in a particular country. Aristotle compares non-citizens to elderly people or children who must be enrolled in community homes or schools for them to be recognized there (Aristotle’s Politics Book 3). Notably, not all individuals can be considered to be citizens in a particular country. If one does not comply with the set regulations, the government has the right to deport individuals that it does not want to be citizens.
Aristotle argues that citizens can be disqualified if they do not partake in decisions made by specific government offices (Aristotle’s Politics Book 3). Governments know that citizens have the power to change things, and that is why they are careful when it comes to the determination of who can become a citizen or not. For instance, people in government offices are only there for a specific period. In that light, it means that a replacement must take place at some point. Aristotle says that “Now some offices are differentiated by time, so that in some cases the same person is not permitted to hold them twice, or only after some definite period of time has passed” (Aristotle’s Politics Book 3, p. 63). At this junction, the author means that individuals in government officers ought to be replaced by others after their period of serving the public elapses. These people must adhere to the contractual agreement that they signed when taking over leadership. As such, only citizens can replace these individuals using different ways and based on the type of government. In a democracy, elections are planned, and citizens are expected to cast their votes to e...