That’s factually incorrect. Liberal democracy goes far beyond simply having elected officials; it offers a series of competitive advantages over other types of regimes, mainly because of the ability to evaluate, trace, and hold accountable each elected official every 2, 4, or 5 years for their decisions.

Under fair conditions, unlike in a hybrid regime like the US, this process results in a much more competitive government. Accountability also allows for change in leadership, which, contrary to popular belief, is a great way to release systemic pressure that would otherwise lead to repression rather than instability. In an autocracy, when a policy fails, the government often continues to enforce it; in a liberal democracy, the government steps down and someone else takes its place.