Millions went to bed fearful last night and woke up this morning even more so. We understood that it was inevitable that America would need to militarily respond to the killing of an American contractor in Iraq. It came in the form of U.S. rocket attacks on Iranian sponsored military camps in Iraq, which then resulted in the storming of the American embassy in the country.Things were ratcheting up and the world understood it wasn't over. And now America targeted a top Iranian general just outside of Baghdad, incinerating him with a drone strike. The general had a history littered with bloodshed and there will be many who feel a sense of elation now that he is gone.For most of us, however, there is this nagging feeling that things are desperately close to spinning out of control, not just in this latest incident but in hotspots around the globe. The threat of war feels more real now than at any time since the dangerous regional conflicts of the 1970s.More important than such volatile occurrences is the mindset that is slowly descending on the affluent world – a development far more dangerous than any military confrontation, large or small.And it's all premised on fear. For whatever reason, affluent nations are slanting towards authoritarian leaders who behave much like those in the trouble spots elsewhere. Perhaps it's democracy's greatest weakness and we just never really understood it until now.People who fear naturally recede into themselves but also develop a propensity to collectively make decisions that alter policy. Think of the election of various right-wing leaders in places like Europe, South America, the Middle and Far East, and, yes, America. They have all gone mainstream and boast of large bases of support in their countries.This is now old news, but one of the important lessons coming out of this emergence is just how fragile democracy itself has become. When you battle high unemployment, homelessness, poverty, identity politics and violent media saturation in any democratic state, it will be inevitable that the populace will get restive and go for a leader who promises to make their world better.It doesn't, of course, because to be ultimately successful and secure, democratic government has to be about process, collaboration and policy. It can be frustrating and glacial at times, but it keeps us from going over the edge into madness. But when a population feels that it doesn't matter who they vote for since nothing ever changes in their favour, they will eventually get around to supporting the leader who promises to blow it all up, forget process, and get them what they want. When people are searching for a better life that they can't reach, words like “order” and “process” become buzz words for doing nothing.And, so, they latch on to leaders who promise to make their lives better, but who in the process induce hate and intolerance into the equation. And this is the essence of the weakness: they surrender their democratic freedoms in the process and end up in pressing situations that they just can't escape or overcome. But they do it anyway because the status quo no longer works in their minds.This is likely why democracy is slowly unraveling in affluent nations. Unable to understand the changes swirling around them, and unsuccessful at finding traditional politicians who can effectively explain and change what is going on, citizens grasp for the one who simplifies everything to the point of inanity and induces fear and loathing into politics and the media.People fear that their historic world is coming apart and that their politics is doing nothing about it, and so they attack the source of their problems – immigrants, the poor, the politicians, the bureaucracy – and in the process the forces of racism, hatred, bigotry and rage escape break their bonds and unleash their devastation on communities, the nation, the world.Some leaders understand this cringing fear all too well and seek to enflame it in their quest for power. This, too, is now old news and has been commented on repeatedly over the past few years.But with the drone strike in Iraq, a new dimension of that “fear factor” is about to unfold. It's all based on a reasonable assessment: if an authoritarian leader is willing to tear apart the bonds that once held democracies together, will he not feel just as inclined to repeat his braggadocio on the global stage? And if he has control over powerful resources to aid his cause – weapons, money, troops, like-minded authoritarian leaders – why wouldn't he use them to affect the perception of him in his home nation?Of course, he would – wars have been instigated over less.This is what makes this singular drone attack in Baghdad so symbolic. It could well result in the prevalence of fear and drive democracies themselves to the edge. It also might not, but we are no longer as secure as we were. Iran will respond and things will escalate. The proxies developed in earlier years, based on alliances and diplomacy, have been kicked to the curb by this attack and a single unilateral attack by a drone will likely reap the whirlwind.We all worry about this, either openly or, in most cases, just below the surface. Fear is a terrible motivator and we know it. While it could result in our withdrawing into our own safe places, it could just as easily unleash the forces of hate, not just in political and military leaders, but in a general populace.Somehow, we have to discover a way to either keep authoritarians in check or reform our democracies so that the basic needs of people are met across the board. Until that time, despotic leaders have the field and all we can do is watch. The democratic vote is more powerful than any weapon or army, but if it is infused with dread, or just not used at all, it is democracy itself that becomes the ultimate victim of fear.Glen Pearson was a career professional firefighter and is a former Member of Parliament from southwestern Ontario. He and his wife adopted three children from South Sudan and reside in London, Ontario. He has been the co-director of the London Food Bank for 32 years. He writes regularly for the London Free Press and also shares his views on a blog entitled “The Parallel Parliament“. Follow him on twitter @GlenPearson.