1978    Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship.

1983    Democracy is restored in Argentina with the assumption of President Raúl Alfonsín.

1989    The Chinese authorities declare martial law in the face of pro-democracy demonstrations, setting the scene for the Tiananmen Square massacre.

1989    In Leipzig, East Germany, 70,000 protesters demand the legalisation of opposition groups and democratic reforms.

1991    Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II mission.

1997    After nearly 18 years of incarceration, the People's Republic of China releases Wei Jingsheng, a pro-democracy dissident, from jail for medical reasons.

2008    Bhutan officially becomes a democracy, with its first ever general election.