Europe was never democratic to begin with.
(I)t is very clear that in fundamental theory, socialism and democracy are almost, if not quite, one and the same. They both rest at bottom upon the absolute right of the community to determine its own destiny and that of its members. Men as communities are supreme over men as individuals. …Also, the communists are very fond of democracy:
What will be the course of this revolution? Above all, it will establish a democratic constitution, and through this, the direct and indirect dominance of the proletariat. …So, close to two centuries of this version of “democracy” and we see the bitter fruits.
— The Principles of Communism
(T)he first step in the revolution by the working class is to raise the proletariat to the level of ruling class to win the battle of democracy. …
— Communist Manifesto, chapter 2
Bingo.
“Europe was never democratic to begin with.”
Agree. You had two ‘mainstream’ parties in most of those countries and they agreed on 95% of everything, far worse than even here. Over there, Romney and Susan Collins would be on the far right of the mainstream ‘conservative’ party, with 90% of our Republican Party either neutered or being in jail, for spouting ‘extremism’. Just yesterday the ‘conservative’ party in Germany agreed to end coal use by 2038...that’s how bad it is there.
(and only Trump was able to hold off the same here, for now)