La crisi della democrazia nell’Atene di fine V secolo: dalla disgregazione della comunità civica al “ritorno al sociale”

The antidemocratic coup of 411 succeeded thanks to the ability with which the conspirators could cripple the climate of social unity and serene political coexistence of Athenian democracy. Democrats reacted with a systematic promotion of sociality, also based on “communicative” aspects (exhibition of inscriptions with documents of public interest, propaganda based on re-appropriation of slogans, creation or exploitation of monuments, promotion of collective rites). Since individualism and loss of community cohesion had been dangerous to the democratic system, the defense of democracy was promoted through the reconstruction of a cohesive and ideologically compact social framework, capable of supporting the individual in his personal beliefs through the support of the society.