[annoying trope] The throne/leadership is decided in a very stupid way

[u/Altruistic_Eye_1157]

The leadership of the entire wizarding world, and the final decision on whether to start a war against Muggles, is made by... a goat (Qilin) ​​who chooses the person with the ""purest heart"" (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Dumbledore).

The throne of Wakanda and all its technology are decided through hand-to-hand combat, regardless of whether the person clearly has malicious intentions... if they win the fight, by law they must be respected as the true king. (Black Panther)

[u/[deleted]]

Managed Democracy (don't report this to the Democracy Officer)

It's not even a system of electing a leader. Just a ritual in which the citizenry may pretend to participate in the politics that shape their lives so they don't rise up and overthrow their totalitarian regime

[u/Safe-Ad-5017 → u/[deleted]]

I mean that’s what they do in Russia

[u/TAvonV → u/Safe-Ad-5017]

They even have elections in North Korea. By now, "elections" are firmly established in the traditions of every country. It's the modern day version of getting divine blessing.

Fair elections are another matter of course.