La ciudadanía de la democracia ateniense

Abstract

The classical Athenian democracy represents for Western political theory, the first example of a completely developed homo politicus, using Max Weber’s term. The establishment of this city-state took place according to the political principle of isonomy, wich was synonymous with democracy. All of the Athenian democratic political institutions involved the citizens. The various judgeships, the Council – Bulé-, the Assembly – Ekklesía-, the Courts – Heliea-, etc., required the participation and constant commitment of the Athenian citizens as a body. The identification of the Athenian city-state with all of its citizens involved the execution of the politike areté, which meant that all the citizens participated through cooperation and intelligence in the living space of the polis. The political, social and military requirements that the Athenian democracy demanded of its citizens help us to understand what it really means to be a citizen of a political community. The citizenship of the Athenian democracy involves the first example f homo politicus in Western political history.