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, th...