Idiotes?

What is the Democratic ideal?
In 200 words!!

Democracy has had a long and turbulent history. When Plato and Aristotle discussed Democracy in the time of the ancients they announced it as the most dangerous form of government. Today democracy is believed so strongly that it is held in the highest regard and exported. But what is the democratic ideal?

Lincoln announced democracy as governance of the people, by the people for the people. Is that right? Or does democracy really represent governance of the people by the few for the individual? We have democratic rights to discuss and choose how we want to live, but it has been shown that through demonstration and protest, radical action, real power is in the hands of the people. We see increasing isolationism and atomisation, despite our many political freedoms; so perhaps the democratic ideal is the most effective means of control. We believe we have a say because we have a vote, we believe we have freedom because we have liberty, but do these equate?
The key principle is that the democratic ideal is essentially contested; it is many things to many people. Freedom and liberty or coercion and control?