I like the way Sen (1985) - Well-being, agency and freedom: The Dewey lectures 1984 - puts it, namely essence of freedom is that each and every person has the opportunity and the means to pursue, within ethical or moral boundaries, his or her very own self actualization. As with Aristotle then, Government exists to arbitrate between socioeconomic agents' efforts and activities for self actualization, that is, to mediate ethical and moral imperatives that are pursuits of socioeconomic agents.
Alfred Marshall, the famous economist concurs in his Principles of Economics, posits that Economics revolves around studies of efforts and activities of socioeconomic man.
If true freedom revolves around the freedom to choose efforts and activities, relative to the freedom to choose efforts and activities, Government functions as a 'Democracy' (note that my single quotes indicate I use the terms in some very niche sense); Relative to the mediation of disputes, there is emphasis of equality, as such asymptotically, 'Communism'; relative to the prevention of overstepping of others' freedoms, not intentionally, but by oversight, Government functions both as a 'Monarchy' and an enforcer of 'Rule of Law'.
Why does mankind emphasize one system or the other? Because man loves factionalization of society, likes to attempt to prove that a Partial Equilibrium - constancy of 'democracy', which can pat hate crimes on the head - can beat out a General Equilibrium - namely, switches, as appropriate between wearing the hats of, Freedoms ('Democracy'), Justice (Equality or 'Communism'), and Enforcement of Boundaries ('Monarchy' and Rule of Law).
For illustration, among Christians, whenever Baptists assert that they are closer to the truth than Presbyterians, or vice versa, they posit that emphasizing their niche differences is more glorifying to Jesus than simply glorifying Jesus. Can't be true can it, if truly glorifying Jesus means loving and honoring one another?
Exactly the same phenomenon at work among Shiite and Sunni Muslims, or among Buddhists who believe or do not believe in the existence of God. Exactly the same phenomenon at work between Democrats and Republicans who, regardless of the specific context or challenge, assert that movement to either of the Left or Right always is the only possible answer. Yet whenever it has been convenient for winning, have been known to hurry towards the center.
Appreciate your taking the time to pen a response to my post.
