Somehow people who look quite smart at first sign can't get basic things.

Let's take goverment. They think that if they will elect other party it'll suddly act in the interests of the people.
Not the small part of elites they represent actually, but whole people.

And, strangely for them, this never happens.

What are required terms for this to happen?

Elites must have direct feedback. Constant and continuous. In case of big damage or betrayal of people interests they must be charged and punished up to the death penalty. They also must not have any ability to leave country and live happily. They must know that every their action will have real consequences.

Again, strangely, this means that they must have different and incompatible to mainstream ideology, ideology widely proclaimed evil by other elites.