Lenin was middle class!

The middle classes are not the elite but they are near enough to smell the power.

This accounts for revolutionary activity.

But if the system is pulled down than there will be a brutal power struggle and only the most violent oppressive individuals will make it to the top leading to authoritarianism.

Democracy is an oddity, arising where a leisured elite has the time to say 'OK lets not fight to the death but set up some system to pony up the power'.

Initially only the elite (rich white men) get a vote but over time the franchise is extended to everybody.

A jewel.

When its gone its gone.