These democratic foundations are proving painfully hard to maintain in poorer states, including many African countries. Since the introduction of democracy and respect for human rights threatens many entrenched interests in pre-democratic states, such interests will frequently resist such changes, sometimes with violence. Under such circumstances, democracy may collapse under the weight of political conflict or civil war. Thus, in contrast with the heady optimism of the late 1980s, there are now grounds for concern about the worldwide future of democracy and respect for human rights. But cases of failure or backsliding should not distract us from the reality of overall progress.
Great struggles lie ahead before all mankind is free.
But compared to the situation of twenty years ago, democracy and respect for the individual have become the acknowledged norm toward which the countries of the world are aspiring. It seems possible that, in the next few years, a number of recently established democracies will fall under quasi-authoritarian rule. The conditions for the establishment and survival of the institutions of civil society that underpin true democracy are proving painfully hard to establish in many of the poorer states. Since the introduction of democracy often threatens the status quo for entrenched interests in pre-democratic states, such interests will frequently resist it, sometimes with violence. The difficulties in democratic transition being experienced by the transition states should not offer serious alarm about the bright future of democracy over the long run.