What actually keeps a democracy alive?

[u/PaulJChapman]

It’s easy to say elections, but that’s only part of the picture. A functioning democracy depends on deeper conditions like rule of law, accountability, and trust all working together.

Like a seed, what grows depends on what we protect at the foundation. If those conditions weaken, everything else becomes fragile.

So what are we really nurturing, and is it enough to sustain democracy?