Democracy + backsliding in EE

Question 1

Debate (1)

Answer 1

EE countries face challenges that make democracy unlikely

Question 2

Debate (1) why?

Answer 2

Triple transformation and the dilemma of simultaneity (offe 1991) - democracy a process where the nation was built to create the community

Question 3

Features of debate 1?

Answer 3

dissolution of SU and breakup of multi-ethnic federations = national identity building before democratisation

State-building = requires structures (socialism left little space for civil society)

State-formation = process where elites compete over authority to create the framework of policy and implementation

Political transformation = lack of experience

Economic transformation = socialist legacies… massive restructuring of industry required and the effect of market-ideology

Building capital democracies = ‘cleavage theory’ need structured social conflicts for democracy to work, which has its roots in the history of state formation

Question 4

Debate (1), unlikely, unless?

Answer 4

economic miracle, international organisations sanction democracies, successful socio-economic mitigation, development of civil society

Question 5

Debate (2)

Answer 5

EE transformations part of broader 3rd wave (Huntington 1991) occurs in waves and peaks

Question 6

Transitologists vs area specialists?

Answer 6

(Schmitter & Karl 1994) EE part of third wave, common process of diffusion

(Bunce 1995) historically specific, deeper analysis needed

Question 7

Transition paradigm? 5 steps

Answer 7

1. any nation moving away from dictatorship can be considered to be a country in transition to democracy
2. democracy occurs in stages
3. importance of electioms
4. underlying condition not important
5. coherent state exists

Question 8

Lührman & Lindberg 2019

Answer 8

Uses varieties of democracy project, episoding from 1900 - shows a third wave of autocratisation unfolding

(gradual, under a legal facade)