Democracy: a government of the people, in which citizens rule directly or through elected representatives - the latter description more relevant to today's societies. Evidently democracy is not perfect; like any other political system, it is subject to numerous flaws. For example, it is no secret that voters tend to make illogical decisions, not out of pure malice, but because they have been misinformed. Politicians also make bad choices, whether they do so because they are dishonest or simply because they are out of touch with the true will of their constituents. Furthermore, anyone who has studied the governance of a parliamentary democracy knows that gerrymandering can have a strong say in determining elections. Despite these and other flaws, however, democracy still appears to work. Comparing the average citizen of a democratic nation, such as the United States, with that of a non-democratic nation, such as Egypt, you will find that the citizen of a democratic nation is generally better off: free from persecution, free from fear of the authorities and free to express their opinions on government matters. And while national conflicts occur everywhere, incidents such as violent riots have proven to be more prevalent in nations where citizens are not allowed to choose who governs them. It is somewhat paradoxical that democracy, so intrinsically flawed in theory, can lead to such positive results in practice. The question, then, becomes: “If democracy has so many weaknesses, why does it work?” It's strange to look at psychological factors to answer this question, but they can be of great help in finding the right answer. Giving people a vote, regardless of whether or not that vote is decisive for the adoption of a certain policy... middle of paper... result of a direct democracy, complications such as convincing every citizen to vote on every single question, something almost impossible with modern populations that grow like grass in spring. These changes have caused democracy to become intertwined with other forms of government and, while they have caused a deviation from pure democracy, they have allowed countless nations to function efficiently while maintaining the fundamental pillar of democracy: that authority and power the latter derive from the citizens. In deciphering what constitutes the brilliance of democracy, then, we find that it is not the ability of citizens to make informed decisions or a flawless and subtly manipulated electoral process, but the non-apparent way in which democracy persuades citizens – informed or otherwise – and leaders – corrupt or otherwise – towards building better and more prosperous societies.