Despite economic liberalisation, the political reforms of the early 1990s have stalled.
Nearly all abortions in Africa are unsafe, despite the liberalisation of laws in South Africa in 1997.
The services sector, despite some liberalisation (for instance, in retailing) is still underdeveloped.
A more serious issue, despite limited liberalisation over the past few years, is the continued presence of the state's dead hand.
Despite gradual liberalisation over the course of the 20th century, helped when the Obscene Publications Act finally allowed a defence of artistic merit against charges of obscenity, by the 1990s Britain still had far more stringent censorship than countries such as Germany or Denmark.
And despite the liberalisation of laws in the US at state level, the US federal government's commitment to both the War on Drugs and the international agreements that bind world powers to prohibition, means that Britain's politicians couldn't currently deliver Fine's solution, even if they wanted to.
Despite hints of liberalisation, Mr Niyazov's coterie appears to retain a firm grip on power, and will doubtless continue to trade on his personality cult for some time.The deputy prime minister, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, rumoured to be a close relative of Mr Niyazov, has been named acting president.
Despite this nod towards liberalisation, as stipulated in the power-sharing deal between Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), News Day is the only newcomer operating.
On trade, and representing a win for Britain and the US, the summit backed the rapid conclusion of the Doha round of trade liberalisation, despite French reservations.
