Formal democracy works only while contending classes remain in exact balance.

Evidence

Kirchheimer saw in this a model of modern formal democracy. Because there was an almost exact balance between the existing forces, the classes which were in conflict with one another had finally reached silent agreement that the elections and their accidental majorities could decide who should take over the government, as long as this balance lasted.' Narrow limits were set to government power, so that those who think they have acquired control over the business of the state … find instead that they are in charge of a legal process.’ — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 252

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the Schmittian model of formal democracy as a balance-of-forces equilibrium, not a value system.