The powerful people who control the money, often “buy“ the people’s choice and have an undue influence on the policy makers. Paid for, deceitful propaganda, is used to create fear. Fear is the greatest motivator. The right and the left make extensive use of the fear factor to get people to even vote against their own interest. In Canada with a three party system, the government can form a majority government with less than 40% of the vote and ignore the majority of the voters.
The emerging nations, overthrowing dictatorships must first learn to respect the minorities in their country. We also must constantly try to fix the flaws in our system as well and through our influence help the emerging nations to establish true democracies were minority rights are protected and the influence of unelected religious leaders, who claim to have received their power from a deity, is minimized. The influence of the Rich can only be curbed by strict election laws.
Good luck with that, we have a long way to go!