Democracy and Globalization: Nineteen Eighty-nine and the "Third Wave"

摘要: Nineteen eighty-nine stands out as a dramatic divide in contemporary history, some respects comparable to the French Revolution two hundred years earlier, "spring of nations" 1848. The fall communism Eastern Europe, end Cold War, and subsequent dissolution Soviet Union inaugurated new era international relations. But political transformations that took place around 1989 were global their range. Parallel events Europe process democratic reform ran its course Latin America, Africa, Asia. By beginning 1980s most American countries under form military rule; by 1992 all except had elected heads state. As late 1989, thirty-eight forty-five African or one-party regimes, opinion prominent Africanist writing at time, it was "unlikely democracies will be created coming years." 1 Two later thirty-one become multiparty states with assemblies. In Asia similar pressures for increasing, from overthrow Marcos regime Philippines 1986, first free elections South Korea Taiwan 1987, risings China Thailand 1992. 2 [End Page 391]