This is a very important point. Whereas there is "convergence" between for example the penal codes of states commonly referred to as "democratic", what is nothing in one country might be a crime to just say in the other. In fact, comparative political science has only some veeeeery basic "features" that make them say it's "a democracy"; there is a lot of freedom to tip the scales in one direction or another. Also, commonly overserved is the notion among elites that some democracy is "too much" (for example, no referendums in core governance questions).
