In 1989, observers of world politics became convinced that they were witnessing a new era: the global primacy of democracy. Governments committed to building democracy had taken office in a range of apparently unconnected countries, including Spain, Argentina, the Philippines, Poland and South Korea. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the pro-democracy demonstrations in China led to the belief that liberal democracy was now the only legitimate political ideology. This book offers a comprehensive and theoretically-informed introduction to democratization. Drawing on examples from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, it shows how global transformation made democratization possible and analyzes the processes of political change in key countries. However, democratization is a slow and painful business and many attempts have failed or stalled. This book shows how successful democratization requires not only a favorable international climate but also strong, dense and vibrant civil societies and a capable and flexible state.