It took only a few years, for example, for the vast majority of the
world’s states to acknowledge that the harm inflicted on civilians by landmines was
egregious and unacceptable, and hence to agree to stop producing, using, trading
and stockpiling antipersonnel landmines immediately.8 But these are exceptional
moments. On countless real and important issues, one finds deep divisions within
and among societies, and change can take generations to emerge and become the
new norm