If true, why didn't civilization collapse into Mad Max during the great depression?
I do think democracy, the way it currently works, has a problem. It doesn't seem to be able to actually solve problems anymore. This appears to be a relatively recent problem, as it's certainly solved problems before. I'm not sure exactly what it is or when it happened, I've seen it suggested the fall of the Berlin wall and the loss of credible competition from the east bloc is the cause. Could be, but it seems obvious something has broken.
So far it's been able to rest on its laurels and coast on the good name of democracy, but I'm concerned that if it stays dysfunctional and is seen visibly floundering amidst growing problems, then what faith is left in the institution may come to evaporate. I don't know if revolution is the logical conclusion, seems more likely to just sort of fall apart. What gives the state authority is that people believe it has authority. If enough people stop believing that, so the state goes away.