If you take an example of a non-functioning democracy, it's not a good way to describe a functioning democracy.
Ultimately it comes down to who has the power. The more that power is concentrated the more fragile it becomes. It doesn't change overnight.
I wish I knew :-). A functioning democracy seems to be an unstable equilibrium.
But it remains that a functioning democracy is what we should aim for.
> Ultimately it comes down to who has the power.
Well it starts with the people giving them power. Trump did not seize the power in the US, for instance. He was elected. Twice.
If you take an example of a non-functioning democracy, it's not a good way to describe a functioning democracy.