Most of us would rather be persuaded than coerced. Representative republicanism is the form of government most conducive to persuasion. Obviously authoritarianism is inherently coercive, but pure "democracy" is too.
The thing about "democracy" is that it's never about a majority of individuals reaching a consensus decision. It's about groups organizing to amass and exercise power. Solidarity and discipline within the group is vital to success. Pure democracy is ANTITHETICAL to individualism.
Under pure democracy, you don't win by convincing 51% to agree with you. You win by putting together a coalition and preventing opponents from doing so. In its crudest form, this means you win by forming mobs and intimidating those who disagree with you.
Pure "democracy" is also not fond of laws that restrain the government itself, because it sees the government as the "will of the people" and nothing should be allowed to frustrate that will. If "the people" vote for something, they should have it immediately.
This is one reason why pure democracy is a miserable environment for minority rights, even though its proponents often posture as champions of minority groups. The tribalism inherent to mob-prone democracy makes it rough to be in the minority in any sense. You get steamrolled.
The key to victory in a mob-prone atmosphere of "democracy" is not to win 51% support from the general population. It's to develop enough energy to overrule the people who don't care, who aren't organized. Intimidation is a huge force multiplier.
Persuasion is slow and often frustrating work. It takes time and dedication. It rarely offers the rush of exhilarating victory or the glee of crushing opponents. "Democracy" lacks the patience for persuasion. Frustration bleeds away the energy vital to holding mobs together.
Also, the energetic and disciplined factions that are the key to success under democracy have a tendency to become very righteous in their outlook. They develop a sense of moral urgency. They don't think highly of those who refuse their righteous demands.
And there you have the key difference between a government of persuasion vs. coercion: the right to say "no," to opt out, to refuse. We should be more far more jealous of that right. /end
