The solution to have a fully functional dmeocracy, ie, democarcy+ rule of law is to bridge the gaps. For this development is a must. Free market economy is a must to have a civil society and to bridge the economic/ethnic gaps. However, free trade should not be that "free". When reforming the economy, the nations need to make sure that they get the "cheap bread" but not at its people's expense. Once you implenet a successful market reform, once you have lowered your unemployment rate and thus eradicated angry youths or "People of Mass destruction" in Friedman's words, then you can expect to elect good leaders, who will make sure that their actions do not violate the constitution, and the rights of the people are not infringed upon. Otherwise, the angry people will elect angry reps. Those angry reps. will make sure that the people will remain angry, as in the case of Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Russia and Rwanda, places where democarcy led to autocracy of the few, instead of the rule of the many. So the forumla to have a functyioning liberal democracy is: Economic Reforms - Rule of Law - Civil society - Consensus on the appropriate role of the State = fully functioning Democracy. If anybody has any other model, please let me know. Will help me finish my term paper. Thanks in advance. Feel free to criticize and disagree.