You may not know the word isonomy, but you certainly know the principle: the idea that every citizen, regardless of wealth or status, is equal before the law.
The idea of legal fairness is pretty universal, but the Ancient Greeks were the first known to have codified it in their political structure and laws. The pillars of isonomy are simple: No one is above the law; justice is meted out equally; and every citizen has a right to participate in the political process. Isonomy stands in direct opposition to tyranny and oligarchy. It is the principle that underpins Western democracy and the modern rule of law.