雅典民主政治的危机与民主信仰的重塑

以人民主权为基本原则、以公民广泛参与国家管理为基本特征的雅典民主政治,在公元前5世纪取得了辉煌的胜利,使雅典成为希腊世界的政治和文化中心。但人民主权的发展,也使民主政治与法治之间的紧张凸显。伯罗奔尼撒战争中雅典遭遇的败局,富有阶层对民主政治在政治上和思想上的反对,令民主政治遭遇严重挑战。公元前5世纪末民主政治重建后,通过实现公民和解、提升法律权威、整顿思想,成功重树了对民主政治的信仰,确保了公元前4世纪雅典民主政治的稳定。

The Crisis of Athenian Democracy and the Reconstruction of Faith

The Athenian democracy,based on the popular sovereignty and wide participation in the state administration,prospered in the fifth century B.C and Athens became the political and cultural center of the Greek world.But the rise of popular sovereignty also caused tensions between democracy and the rule of law.Athenian final disaster in the Peloponnesian War and the wealthy revolt against democracy challenged the basic faith of democracy seriously.When democracy was reestablished at the end of the fifth century B.C.,the democrats succeeded in reconciliating citizens,establishing the rule of law and rectifying the intellectual field.Finally,the faith in democracy was consolidated and it ensured the stability of Athens in the fourth century B.C.