<h2 class=" eplus-wrapper" id="crosshead">New dawn</h2>

A ripple of cheers broke out when Elnaz Rekabi competed in the Asian Climbing Competition finals on Sunday. Some onlookers might have wondered why. With her hair in a pony-tail, Rekabi looked like any other contestant.

But that is what made the moment so extraordinary. Rekabi was representing IranA country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million. , which requires all its athletes to wear a hijabA head covering worn by some Muslim women.. Refusing to cover her head appeared to be an act of defiance.

Rekabi has since gone missing, joining the hundreds of Iranians who have disappeared since protests broke out across the country last month.¹ Yesterday, a post appeared on her Instagram account claiming her hijab had fallen off accidentally.

In spite of this, the protests continue. The young people of Iran say they will not rest until they have won their freedoms.

They are not the only ones displaying great bravery against repression. Last week, a man hung banners from a bridge in Beijing calling for the removal of Chinese leader Xi JinpingThe president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life..

It seems like all over the world, people are fighting for freedom and democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.. Now one man thinks he has been proved right.

In 1992, Francis FukuyamaAn American political scientist best known for his argument that the whole world will one day embrace liberal democracy. claimed that most of history had been defined by the struggle between ideas, like monarchyThe king or queen and royal family. vs democracy and communismThe system of organising society so that all property is owned by the community and everyone receives things according to their needs. vs capitalismA form of economy characterised by private property and competition between companies.. The most recent of these struggles had just ended in defeat for communism.

For Fukuyama, one idea had finally won out: liberal democracyA system of government in which governments are elected and the rights and freedoms of the individual is protected.. He was confident it would quickly spread around the world.

Many thought he was proved wrong. Vladimir Putin was soon in power in Russia. AuthoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. China is now a superpower. AutocraticRelating to a ruler with total power. leaders have been elected in India, the USA and Italy.

But Fukuyama stands by his argument. In a new essay, he claims liberal democracy is still winning, and authoritarianism is weaker than it seems. He says dictatorships are doomed to fail because their leaders become unwilling to listen to those around them.

Yes: People will always choose individual freedoms and representation over dictatorship and repression. That means there is constant pressure in favour of liberal democracy. Authoritarian states cannot hold out forever.

No: Democracy is not a successful system. It has not existed for very long, nor has it spread very far, and it has often proved fragile. Ultimately, authoritarianism will always outcompete it.

Or... The "democracy" part might survive without the "liberal". People will keep the vote, but many societies will become stricter. Some may even lose individual rights.

Iran - A country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million.

Hijab - A head covering worn by some Muslim women.

Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.

Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.

Francis Fukuyama - An American political scientist best known for his argument that the whole world will one day embrace liberal democracy.

Monarchy - The king or queen and royal family.

Communism - The system of organising society so that all property is owned by the community and everyone receives things according to their needs.

Capitalism - A form of economy characterised by private property and competition between companies.

Liberal democracy - A system of government in which governments are elected and the rights and freedoms of the individual is protected.

Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.

Autocratic - Relating to a ruler with total power.