The democracy movement in Hong Kong, with its ideal of political freedom and its embodiment of it in spontaneous and decentralised organisation, is one of many such revolutions, most of them short lived. It is inspiring because of its idealism, and poignant because its historical precedents demonstrate the power of the forces arrayed against it.
The archetype of the democratic ideal is ancient Athens where a rich literary, artistic and philosophical culture flourished, and where all citizens were involved in the decisions of government. It represented a freedom in which people could express themselves creatively and argue for and participate in personal and public projects before their fellow citizens.
More recent scholars have drawn attention to how the freedom of Athenian citizens to spend their days debating and deciding matters of public concern (not to mention dallying in the baths) depended on the institution of slavery and the subordination of women. The price of the freedom of the wealthy few was the subjugation of the impoverished many.
This paradox had consequences. In order to continue to enjoy cultural and political freedom and growth Athens sought to increase its wealth through colonial expansion. This yielded tribute and more slaves from weaker states. Over time wealth became entrenched in the hands of relatively few Athenians and fear grew of the 'mob': those excluded from citizenship both at home and abroad. The freedom and shared responsibility characteristic of Athenian democracy yielded to oligarchy whose main aim was to enshrine privilege at the expense of freedom.
In Rome the same dynamic bred the security state where political culture was built on the deification of the Emperor and the power of a formidable army and engineering corps. This ensured that streams of wealth flowed from the conquered peoples in the Empire to the powerful few and then to citizens more generally. Political freedom was an oxymoron. Free association of people to discuss the affairs of state was limited to a small elite out of fear of the mob of slaves, mercenaries and local patriots. Ordinary people traded political freedom for security from famine and war.
When seen against this background, the behaviour of the protesters in Hong Kong can only seem extraordinary and provocative. The protests against the likely loss of political freedom appear to have the support of the majority of the population, and vast numbers of people from different sectors of society have participated in them. They have