[narag]

It is actually very rare for dictatorships to turn into democracies.

In the last half century give or take some years, half of Europe and Latin America nations have successfully and peacefully made this transition. And only Venezuela has returned to dictatorship.

Do you think Putin will ever be overthrown?

No idea. Formal democracy is still in place, so there's hope.

[timthelion]

But recorded history in Europe goes back some 3000 years.

[narag]

Universal suffrage is as recent as 1906, and only for male voters was introduced in American and French revolutions. So with some back and forth, (modern, real) democracy has been steadly advancing since it was born two centuries ago, with a much clearer trend last half century.