The people turn to extremists when reasonable politicians can no longer provide stability or economic prosperity.
In the same vein, people will ignore major problems if there is economic prosperity.
Credit to @PAstynome for the last one.

@PAstynome We may laugh at people like Hong Xiuquan. Especially his beliefs and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
But its that promise of stability and prosperity, regardless of problems that draws people in. Reality doesn't matter, so long as food and jobs exist.

@PAstynome Economic prosperity is often the mask for hidden problems. That really don't get looked at until things go really bad.
The average citizen doesn't really look at that. They blame the last ruler or bureaucrats before times went bad. To wash their hands of responsibility.

The collapse, decline, and fall of nations, lies in the hands of the citizens. With the government and society being the last to fall.