The influence of contrarians and opportunists on the stability of a democracy in the Sznajd model

Sznajd-Weron and Sznajd introduced a model investigating the democratic development in a closed community. This model is based on the USDF-principle ("united we stand, divided we fall"). However, it faces the problem that the system tends either to a dictatorship (i.e., 100% pro or 100% contra) or to a stalemate state (i.e., exactly 50% pro, 50% contra). Based on their model, I will show that a democratic system keeps alive due to the existence of both opportunists and persons in opposition.