UN officials say this appears to be the experience in many developing countries, in Latin America and elsewhere. The defeat of authoritarian governments brings not only democracy and political rights, but also dynamic market economies which destroy old industries and social relationships to create new ones in which there are winners but also many losers.
Some observers detect the same trends in the developed democracies of the North.
Chile's ambassador to the UN, Juan Somavia, followed through on Aylwin's observations, proposing the idea of a Summit conference on social development. The plan, which gained the support of French President Francois Mitterand, made its way up through the political and bureaucratic machinery of the UN, but not without doubts and difficulties. Three rounds of preparatory negotiations narrowed differences but, only a couple of months before the Summit was due to convene, negotiations were continuing on a Declaration and Program of Action which would be more than pious hopes and yet still be acceptable to 70 or more heads of state and government who are expected to attend.