Final answer:
Democracy is a governing system where power is held by the people or their elected representatives. The first democratic nations emerged post-World War I, but the interwar period saw a rise in dictatorships, and democracy's true efficacy and nature are still topics of debate today.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. After the First World War, many countries aspired to become democratic, although the interwar period witnessed the rise of dictatorships. The United States and its allies, particularly after World War II, promoted the establishment of democratic institutions in countries such as Japan under the guidance of General Douglas MacArthur during the occupation.
Despite the prevalence of democratic governments, the question of what makes a country truly democratic persists. It is not sufficient to only have political institutions like free elections and free speech. A genuine democracy also requires a distribution of economic power and social systems that do not enforce unlimited obedience to authority. In the historical context, President Wilson hoped that young democracies would promote peace and security post-World War I, though in reality, many struggled, leading to a wave of totalitarian dictatorships in the 1920s and 1930s.
Contemporary debates on democracy also consider potential drawbacks, such as the dangers of mob rule and whether too much democracy can lead to negative outcomes. However, most developed countries today practice some form of democracy, recognizing its advantages in giving citizens a say in governance and potentially limiting the rule of a wealthy few over the majority.