Hallmarks of democracy include the following:
- Communication is decentralized, with multiple sources of information.
- Authority and power are constrained by a system of checks and balances.
- Agendas and goals are established through discussion, not by leader Fiat.
- There is a reciprocity of influence between leaders and citizens, as opposed to unidirectional influence from elites.
- Group boundaries and roles are flexible, as opposed to there being a rigid social structure.
- The minority opinion is encouraged as a means of obtaining a better decision, and the rights of those in the minority are protected.
Excerpt from “Age of Propaganda.”