Conflitti interni e morali politiche nelle Storie di Polibio

Abstract

This paper deals with some strategies employed by Polybius to influence his readers’ opinion. The comparison among multiple passages of the Histories reveals the attempt to build a coherent system based on political-moral values. However, a deeper analysis of these passages shows the inconsistencies and instrumentality of the judging criteria, faced with the historian’s political-apologetic agenda. Major fields of observation are internal struggle and the distinctions made between good politicians and demagogues. The importance of this themes in Polybius’ thought is analysed in relation to the danger for the poleis to lose the residual autonomy left by Roman expansion. Anyway, Polybius seems to imply that even Rome is not immune to the risks arising from an involvement of mobs in politics, in spite of its constitution.