Throughout much of their modern history, Romanians had perforce been obliged to regard Hungary as their window on the West; the first book printed in Romanian was published in Budapest, for example.
However, as one of the components of the Democratic Convention, the main opposition grouping to the National Salvation Front, the Hungarians were returned to parliament in 1992, but were now only one element in the opposition, which eased their exposed position somewhat.
The fact that the Democratic Convention was able to gather a fifth of the votes indicated that the beginnings of a civil society in Romania, one that would be prepared to talk to the Hungarians, was discernible.
Developments favoring democratization include: the information and communications revolution, increased levels of income and education, the development of private enterprises and other autonomous organizations, China's growing ties to the outside world, and recognition by the Party that it cannot micromanage Chinese society.
It was also suggested that Chinese intellectuals should study the literature on democratic transitions in other countries particularly those involving pacted or negotiated transitions to look for models that would enable China to move gradually to a more open and competitive political system.
According to one participant, there are two fundamental problems to be overcome before democratization can begin in China: First, the CCP's insistence on preserving a monopoly on political power, and second, the huge gap that has grown between urban society and the peasantry.
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