20th century democracies faced a crisis in the inter-bellum period: a conflict between majority rule and a constitutional order. The mob embraced the former and rejected the latter. The silent majorities found their anti-constitutional voices and then they tore down their carefully constructed systems of government. The legitimate authorities couldn't resist the disintegrating pull because they too embraced the notion of majority rule.
A people needs constantly to be trained in the duties and responsibilities of a constitutional system of government. Citizens need experience with government in their ordinary lives. That means conurbations cannot exceed a certain scale.
The mob is born as the village incorporates into the city and becomes an anonymous neighborhood in the metropolis.
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