How did the actions of the Athens square with its commitment to democracy?

Answer 1

A very Greek approach - what I do is right. The Athenian democracy was financed and made viable by levying contributions - by force if necessary - from its empire of a couple of hundred Greek cities which it dominated. Its democracy ('people power') extended only to the citizens of Athens.

They agreed to laws and policies in fortnightly assemblies of the male citizens, the magistrates and generals carried it out. The cities of the empire obeyed and paid.

Pericles agreed unabashedly that the confederation of these cities was in fact an empire of Athens. Democracy was for 60,000 or so Athenian adult male citizens. The women and children, resident aliens, slaves and the other cities supported and obeyed those citizens. That was their view of democracy, so it didn't need much squaring, to them at least.