In every political regime, there is competition between people and ideas. In an established democratic system, elections resolve the question: who governs? The competition for ideas includes differences between those who advocate marginal reforms and people satisfied with government “as it actually is.” Support for the existing regime and the rejection of alternatives are taken for granted; demands for reform are intended to improve rather than replace a regime.

In a new regime, there can be competition for support between regimes, since everyone knows from experience that there is more than one way that their country can be governed. Political competition is not only about improving the existing regime but also about replacing the current regime by one or more alternatives. To achieve a political equilibrium, the new regime must build positive support for itself, or at least demonstrate either that it is preferable to any alternative regime, or that it is the only regime that is politically possible.

The level of political support at any given point of time is less important than how that support is changing – and in what direction. Insofar as a new regime has little or no reserve from habits of the past, losing support from one year to the next invites ambitious politicians to come forward with an alternative regime and mobilize support to replace it.