That means it operates predominantly as an oligarchy but with strong democratic elements. As a result we do not grow-up learning to think and relate democratically. Rather, for the most part we grow-up learning to think and relate in top/down ways: employer/employee; winner/loser; dominant/subordinate; etc. All cultures literally wire the brains of its members, and tend to continuously reinforce its basic modes of thinking and relating. So we tend to come out as mostly hierarchic worker bees re-producing our top/down culture.