Historically, how long do democracies usually last, on the average, and what brings them down?

Answer 1

They tend to last less than a few hundred years. And they often fail due to political opponents trying to "out bribe" the population, spending money the nation simply doesn't have.

Answer 2

Democracies don't really yet exist, and the one's that are close to the main concept, are too young to produce an exhaustive answer to your question.
But the Greek did get republics for few centuries, and normally those states collapse because of military conquests.
So its pretty much variable. The Greek were conquered by the Romans, the Romans implode and divide over parlementary clivage... As for the Modern one, the first were the French in 1789, Americans followed a few years later... Switzerland is the ONLY true democratic state in the world (even before the USA), and the rest of the so called democracies are just called democracies to appease the populations... Japan, South Korea, Canada, are not real democracies, and are not even close to be...

Answer 3

Great Britain has had its Parliamnet since at least the 1600's and it sees no end or exhaustion in sight. Rome never had a true democracy and the Greek system lasted a few hundred years. In both Greece and Rome, representation was not 'universal', property and wealth along with gender was a prerequisite to vote and to beome a member of the government. With universal sufferage less well to do people bother to gain office, instead using lobbying power.

Answer 4

There's a lack of data on your question, because modern democracies ave a relatively short history. The classical societies which we think of as democracies really were more like aristocracies - they had a very limited suffrage with generally 10% or less of the adult population voting.

What brought the more successful down historically was extreme inequality of wealth which tended to corrupt what democracy there was. Less successful states were defeated in war or had to install dictators to avert military defeat.

Answer 5

Many are several hundred years old and gong strong. The ones that failed either weren't democracies or did not protect the people from an overreaching government. The other important factors for a successful democracy are the rule of law and blind justice. Corruption and privilege must be checked or any democracy is doomed.

Answer 6

I heard somewhere that democracies normally only last about 200 years.

Want to know what brings them down? Take a look at the last 100 years of American history.

Answer 7

I don't think there is a historic 'limit' to a democracy. But, historically speaking, they're usually brought down by corruption from within.

Answer 8

Most Democrats I know are Democrats for life and the only thing that brings them down is their death? Pretty much the same as Republicans.

Answer 9

Electing dictators who campaign with all the good and pure promises with no intention of keeping these promises, whose only motivation is to rule with an iron hand, inflict socialism on the country and build themselves great armies to keep the people in line and worshiping the dictator, depending on him/her for everything and filling their own coffers with great estates, castles, and all the luxuries the working class can provide.

How long: Castro is still oppressing his people after 50 years.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, there isn't enough data to make that determination yet. Some democracies last a long time--examine England, if you will--while others fail relatively quickly.