Western foreign policy, when push comes to shove: Democracy sacrificed for Stability?

[al Roumi]

This is basic political theory guys - nothing radical.

Indulge me then. How does a "country's economic mode define its political superstructure", or point me in the irection of a handy reference. From what I see of the world, the focus on economy (barring possible meanings of economic mode) and nothing else seems utterly incomplete.

Edit: (I'm an Engineer by the way so don't be surprised that I've not studied basic political theory)