How Democratic Has "Democracy" Been, Historically?

Not very. Although arguably still a better system than authoritarian states, or where government is seized by the toughest warlord.

Ancient Athens?: only adult men who had completed their military training and could claim descent from previous citizens on both side of their family, could vote.  Some would-be voters were also disqualified (for debt, for example, which would be inherited by one's children).

United States after the Revolution?:  Initially only adult (over age 21) white men who owned enough land could vote.  Slowly, state by state the rules changed.  By 1860 property was no longer a requirement, but not until the mid 1960s did true universal franchise exist.

Britain?  Although suffrage was granted to women in national elections in 1918, the women had to be married to property owners and be over the age of 30.  Not until 1928 did women achieve equal voting status of men.

It makes you wonder, when the United States talks about creating a democratic tradition in the Middle East, if they would recognise it as such, anyway, Should we expect something that looks like democracy in the West today, or should we give them a 200 years to go through the phases of development we had to go through?