Not by nescessity. Those who start bombing busy train stations and shopping centers, to demand elections should be incarcerated, yes. But not those who simply want something to happen and are vocal about it.
Luxembourg is a good example of a country which isn't a democracy; it's a monarchy and the monarch (a Duke) can do anything he pleases, though he apparently doesn't throw "dissidents" in jail.
The problem with democracy is that only those things get done which the people want to get done, not that which needs to be done, because those in power will want to be elected again.
The problem is that most countries which say they are "communist" are actually "totalirist". China and North Korea are both examples of that. If China was a real communist country, things would be quite different.
What is needed for a government is a representive democratic socialist communist meritocracy.
This basically means that you get to elect somebody (representive democracy) from your field of expertease (meritocracy) to represent you. It also means that the state is to make sure you are able to collect wealth (socialism) and wants to make sure everybody gets an equal share of wealth (communism")
What needs to happen is quite a bit and most people will not like that which needs to happen. Here's the list:
- Forbid people to own cars (unless they have a valid reason to have one... no, getting to the office isn't one); make massive investments in public transit.
- Advantages of this: retain massive amounts of resources, but lots of people will become very unhappy. This also reduces the need for infrastructure and makes the public transit sector very happy. A gigantic reduction in smogg will also be achieved.
Disadvantage: lots of unhappy people, better regulation of public transit needed, more investments in public transit needed. - 1.5 child per family (China does this) and put a harsh penalty on violating this rule. This makes sure the population of a country reduces.
- Advantage: reduction in population.
Disadvantage: you'll need to be harsh to succeed with this, people won't like it and you'll need to inform your people about birth control. - Reduce waste production
- Your industries won't like that, but they will comply if prodded with enough incentives to stay. This isn't really a disadvantage, as it creates a whole new industry.
- Get rid of all products which aren't really needed.
- The crap people have collected around them is amazing at times, all these resources... wasted. Industry and population won't like this... They won't like this at all.