Its why democracy's always lead to tyranny.
I am not disagreeing with that comment. Historically, there just have not been very many democracies. Which ended up as Tyranny? Rome? Athens? Russia before the Czars? Sparta? Evidently some on the Indian subcontinent (thank you, Wikipedia)?
Modern Examples?
You are correct..democracies (by name) are historically rare, probably some of the most demonstrative examples being among some tribes of American Indians.
However, however, the concept has been murky throughout history..
Rome..Well, Rome left a republic style of government and lapsed into tyranny around 25 BC...Julius Caesar was murdered when he tried to do oit about 20 years before.. The Republic was formed about 500 BC, after the fall of the last Etruscan king.
Athens was a democracy..issues being decided by the plebicite..bulky and unweildy.. ....But it fell to tyranny, when they surrendered to Spartan
rule about BC 400 or 500.
Sparta? Nah...King Leonidas (300 Spartans) was half a dual kingship..
Russia...I believe the Cars were just a later iteration of the kings of the Rus.. e.g. Igor of Kiev.. but I could be wrong..
Europe/ After the fall of the Holy Roman empire, Europe became a holy mess ! Europe descended into a chaotic mess, but surprisingly it
demonstrates IMO somne of the best graphic examples of a pure democracy, descending into tyranny.
The failure of the Holy Roman Empire, once led by Charlemagne, led to a chaotic scramble between a multitude of strong men.. Many of them started like the future story of Robin Hood.. ..A strong leader, gathering expert fighters around him, who chose to support him, forms a tiny, neighborhood kingdom..
Then he expands, taking down lesser strong men..inexorably conquering others, until his reign grew substantially. Fighting and wars continued, certain select individuals formed whole countries. But all these countries started by a group of warriors who chose (democratically) to follow a chosen leader.
THe smaller, weaker nations were absorbed, until the Europe of today was formed..
Below is how the European continent looked (superposed) before they emerged from the medieval period in 1200..
Below that, a map of today's Germany showing the various kingdoms and principalities all struggling to grow..about 1300 AD.