Rousseau describes democracy as a form of government that "has never existed and will never exist"; yet twenty-six countries in the world are considered full democracies. How is this possible? Rousseau's concept of democracy supports the most fundamental and basic premise of democracy: that in which all citizens participate directly. Although his idea of ​​democracy cannot be considered an effective indictment against what is considered democracy today, it is not Rousseau's account that is wrong but the fact that in modern society it would be practically impossible to realize this idea of ​​democracy. Jean-Jacques Rousseau defines democracy as a government in which “the sovereign entrusts the government to all the people… so that there are more citizen magistrates than simple private citizens”. In Rousseau's democracy the people are both subjects and sovereigns and as such make the law and are subject to the law. Although the people are simultaneously sovereign and subjects, the sovereignty of the people is based solely in the assembly, and therefore when the people are no longer assembled they become subject to following the same laws they have just created. Although it may seem contrary to If citizens develop the same laws that they will then have to follow, Rousseau states that all laws passed will be based on the general will and therefore will be intrinsically good. Rousseau states that all laws passed by the assembly are "exclusively authentic acts of the general will" and since "the general will is always right", all laws passed are intrinsically good. Along with these fundamental premises in Rousseau's democracy, four fundamental conditions must exist to allow democracy to flourish: a small state, a “g…… middle of paper…… titles and, above all, citizens. Expecting all citizens of a democracy to be free of ambition and greed is virtually impossible, especially when modern society teaches individuals that ambition is a necessary component of success. However, there are nations that hold to democratic ideals as realistically as possible. By allowing and encouraging citizens to vote and similarly creating and implementing laws, these democratic governments are establishing some of the most important ideals of democratic government. Works cited by the Economist Intelligence Unit. “Democracy Index 2010.” Information policy. Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010. Web. 12 November 2011. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, and Donald A. Cress. "On democracy." Basic political writings. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub., 1987. 179-80. Press.