The political thinking of Pericles has enlightened the whole concept of democracy. It is interesting that several critics accused him of been populist, but in fact this character of his, is due to his open spirit. He knew the meaning of glory and could distinguish between it and fame. It was not only pro-democracy but an actual democrat to the bone, because he could sense the essence of Hellenism. Everyone is of importantance, but only the worthy are able to help the people.
The strategic fountation of his political thinking allowed him to not be in chasm with his people, because he did not assume that the people are merely a mass.
He opted, not only for artificial contacts, but for relationships of trust on which he could built on.
Pericles visualized that the Demos is the most important element of Democracy, and not the State, as most assume. This is not about rhetoric, but about humanity. If you assume that the Democracy is merely a State, then ultimately you’re not Greek.
Because a Greek requires his freedom, so for him, Democracy is not the State of the people, but the power of the people, and if you don’t trust the people, there is no power.
Pericles as a democrat, through strategy, enabled this power to emergence and therefore created the politics which made history.