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Why did Athens’s defeat by Sparta increase anxiety about Athenian democracy?

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Socrates Herm of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, from a Greek original, second half of the 4th century bce; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.

Athens’s defeat by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) intensified anxiety about Athenian democracy because the loss exposed the city’s vulnerability and fueled internal political instability.12

The defeat, which ended the Athenian empire, suggested to many that the democratic system was inferior to the Spartan model. This perception was bolstered by several factors:1

Internal Opposition: During the war, anti-democratic factions—often including members of the elite—staged coups, such as the oligarchic revolution of 411 BCE. These groups frequently admired Spartan governance and viewed the democracy as a source of weakness.341
The Thirty Tyrants: Following the final defeat in 404 BCE, Sparta installed a brutal, anti-democratic regime known as the Thirty Tyrants. Led by individuals like Critias, who were part of the Socratic circle, this regime carried out violent purges, deepening the divide between democrats and their opponents.35
Religious and Social Unrest: Wartime pressures and scandals, such as the mutilation of Hermes statues, led to widespread suspicion that individuals who lacked allegiance to democratic institutions or religious customs were undermining the city from within.3

Ultimately, the failure of the democracy to secure victory against a smaller, poorer rival led to a climate of suspicion, where democratic institutions were seen as fragile and susceptible to subversion by internal enemies.134