Now Haitian democracy seems to have its best chance yet.
For 90 minutes, at least, democracy seemed to be working.
More than at any point in Japan's history, a mature democracy seems at hand.
True democracy in Mexico seems eternally just around the corner.
A few years ago, democracy seemed on the march, but now authoritarian governments are confident and thriving.
In practice, democracy was restricted and seems to be on the decline.
But democracy itself seems to be on hold here.
For some, democracy seems to be synonymous with change.
Mind you, that's what "democracy" seems to mean these days.
Twenty years ago, the democracies of the world seemed to be an isolated, beleaguered camp.