I think people are not specifically looking for democracy. They are looking for prosperity, easy life, comfort. And out of all the regimes in the world, the democratic ones managed to secure that for their peoples most. So people want democracy because they hope it will bring them the same level of life that they can see in the Western countries.

Because the other option is a very expensive and dangerous journey to the West, life of an immigrant that is uninvited, unwelcome and frowned upon.

And if you weren't talking about the Third world but "First world", then the answer is similar - it's the regime that secured them their comfortable life. So they want to be assured they're living in a democracy because that means their life as they know it will continue. The diferences between various notions of democracy or regimes are under their level of recognition, as are many economic or other terms.

Democracy is a sugar pill, a fantasy that no one really believes but it gives them something to hold on to. No one likes to thing of people controlling their lives and of giving up their power over them and so they cling to the idea of democracy that gives them some of that power back

It suits people to live in a sweet dream even thought it couldnt be more obvious that the UK for sure ain't a democracy and the US is only a llittle less not a democracy

It compares favourably to the Chinese system of vulgar oppression and information control.

It compares favourably to the Chinese system of vulgar oppression and information control.

Almost anything compares well against Communism; heck even socialism compares well to communism