Thucydides Corruption In Athen's Analysis

Thucydide rightfully finds fault with Athen’s inability to represent facts and it’s tendency to act based on disillusioned ideology on an overarching political scale. He does not make claims of political corruption or voter fraud like scandals of the modern day do. He doesn't view the notion of voting as flawed within itself; he does however attribute problems to the mindsets of Athenian citizens as well as on the athenian statesmen. From reading I would describe Athenian politics at this time as an spiraling back and forth between politicians acting as performers and an audience who continuously suspends their disbeliefs for the sake of a self assuring message. Thucydides make specific criticisms in regards to how many Athenian citizens accept rhetoric without an ounce of scrutiny. He then aims his critique at the pandering that Athen’s statesmen do in order to appeal to the monolithic opinions of the masses.

The initial facet of Athen’s self contained pandering loop; are those
Athen’s had a moment that hauntingly mirrors germany’s and japan’s stances of manifest destiny. In Thucydides it is stated that “we cannot know the exact point at which our empire shall stop; we have reached a position in which we must not be content with retaining but must scheme to extend it, for if we cease to rule others, we are in danger of being ruled ourselves” (Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War ). In a manic state of transcending pride and a fear of regression, the Athenian people move to try and conquer sicily despite their being no positive to their invasion and ultimately the Athenians suffer for their self inflicted hubris with a crippling defeat that hindered their empire for the rest of it’s existence. Hubris akin to that of Icarus as he flew closer and closer to the sun is really what Thucydides saw as the fatal flaw in the Athenian