Originally Posted by DGG

Democracy is important, but it is not the only thing a country need. the rule of law is another important thing, as well as the freedoms of speech and religion that Kanadees mention (but I do not know what Kanadees mean by "freedom of choice", freedom to choose what?).

Democracy can become the tyranny of the majority, if you don't have the rule of law and separation of powers, i.e. checks and balances. Preferably also separation of central, regional, and local power, though this depends on how big the country is.

You have to have a Constitution which is hard to amend and upheld by the courts of law, police, and (if necessary) military, a constitution with a Bill of Rights or its equal that ensures rights and freedoms to the people which cannot be done away with by a simple vote in the Legislature of the country or by an executive order by the Head of State. The Legislature should not be able to outlaw political parties just like that, as happened in Germany in 1933.

Most important for a democracy, though, is a good educational system. Democracy gives a lot of power to the people, but the people must be adequately educated to be able to use this right. In a lot of Third World countries, democracy has resulted in the people voting for non-democratic parties, for instance in Algeria and Palestine. I don't blame the people as such, but the ignorance of the people.

Originally Posted by Non Sequitur

I also think culture has something to do with it. There are some cultures, like some African tribes, which have no interest in democracy. I don't think democracy is some silver bullet for all problems. A society must decide on its own what system works best.