Failed Republics: Athens— How The World’s “First” Democracy Fell

Historical anti-democracy figures, Alcibiades and Trumpanzee

This is the second episode in our Failed Republics series— a daily look at democracies and republics that once flourished, only to collapse from within. Each case holds lessons for us today, as our democracy faces its own existential tests of resilience against MAGA authoritarianism. Critias (469-403 BCE) is sometimes compared to Trump. He was a leading figure in the oligarchic regime of the Thirty Tyrants. He openly opposed Athenian democracy, advocating for an oligarchic system. His role in the violent, anti-democratic regime was a direct challenge to the democratic system, though less populist and more elitist than Trump’s approach. The wealthy, charming, charismatic and very polarizing Alcibiades as more Trump-like. He had fervent supporters among the masses and elites but was deeply distrusted by others who saw him as reckless and self-serving.

When we look back at Ancient Athens, it’s tempting to imagine it as the shining cradle of democracy— citizens gathering in the Agora, debating policy, voting on the future of the city. And in some ways, it was. Athens in the 5th century BCE pioneered a radical experiment in self-government that has inspired democrats for 2,500 years. But it was also fragile. And like every democracy since, it contained the seeds of its own undoing.

Radical Democracy… for Some

Like Vaishali’s, a century earlier, Athens’ democracy was built on exclusion. Only adult male citizens— roughly 10–20% of the population— could participate. Women, foreigners, and enslaved people had no voice. This narrow base made the system more vulnerable to factionalism and less resilient to external shocks.

The Danger of Demagogues

In Athens, charismatic figures could rise quickly, rallying citizens with fiery rhetoric while undermining democratic norms. Sound familiar? Leaders like Cleon and Alcibiades thrived on polarization and personal ambition, exploiting public fears to gain power— often at the expense of the city’s long-term stability.

Endless War and National Hubris

The Peloponnesian War with Sparta dragged on for decades, draining resources and patience. Victory seemed certain at times, but overconfidence led to reckless adventures— like the disastrous Sicilian Expedition— that sapped Athenian strength and morale.

Erosion of Norms and Institutions

As the war turned against Athens, fear and desperation eroded democratic safeguards. Oligarchic coups in 411 BCE and 404 BCE installed authoritarian regimes, including the brutal “Thirty Tyrants.” Democracy was restored eventually, but weakened— and it never regained its earlier vitality.

The Lesson for Today

Democracy isn’t just about voting; it’s about protecting the norms, institutions, and inclusivity that give those votes meaning. Athens shows that exclusion, demagoguery, perpetual war, and erosion of civic trust can destroy even the most ground-breaking democratic experiment. America’s democracy is more expansive than Athens ever was— but it’s not immune to some of the same dangers.

Tomorrow’s Failed Republics installment will look at another democracy that collapsed— this time, in a very different era. The names change. The technology changes. But the playbook of tyranny stays remarkably familiar.