Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Former communist countries --- Politics and government.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This volume brings together a distinguished group of scholars working to address the puzzling durability of communist autocracies in Eastern Europe and Asia, which are the longest-lasting type of non-democratic regime to emerge after World War I. The volume conceptualizes the communist universe as consisting of the ten regimes in Eastern Europe and Mongolia that eventually collapsed in 1989-91, and the five regimes that survived the fall of the Berlin Wall: China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea and Cuba. The essays offer a theoretical argument that emphasizes the importance of institutional adaptations as a foundation of communist resilience. In particular, the contributors focus on four adaptations: of the economy, of ideology, of the mechanisms for inclusion of potential rivals, and of the institutions of vertical and horizontal accountability. The volume argues that when regimes are no longer able to implement adaptive change, contingent leadership choices and contagion dynamics make collapse more likely.

Post-communism --- Postcommunism --- World politics --- Communism --- Former communist countries --- Former Soviet bloc --- Second world (Former communist countries) --- Communist countries --- Politics and government. --- Social Sciences --- Political Science

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

European Union --- United States --- Europe, Central --- Europe, Eastern --- Former communist countries --- Foreign relations

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This timely assessment of both the progress toward democratic governance globally and the significant challenges that democracies face is the outcome of a seminar organized by the Community of Democracies. The Community is a group of more than a hundred countries devoted to the spread and consolidation of democracy around the world.

841.1 Democratisering --- Comparative government --- Democracy --- World politics --- Former communist countries --- Politics and government.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

From 1998 to 2005, six elections took place in postcommunist Europe that had the surprising outcome of empowering the opposition and defeating authoritarian incumbents or their designated successors. Valerie J. Bunce and Sharon L. Wolchik compare these unexpected electoral breakthroughs. They draw three conclusions. First, the opposition was victorious because of the hard and creative work of a transnational network composed of local opposition and civil society groups, members of the international democracy assistance community and graduates of successful electoral challenges to authoritarian rule in other countries. Second, the remarkable run of these upset elections reflected the ability of this network to diffuse an ensemble of innovative electoral strategies across state boundaries. Finally, elections can serve as a powerful mechanism for democratic change. This is especially the case when civil society is strong, the transfer of political power is through constitutional means, and opposition leaders win with small mandates.

Authoritarianism --- Democracy --- Political science --- Politrical science --- General --- Former communist countries --- Politics and government. --- POLITICAL SCIENCE / General --- Authority --- Self-government --- Equality --- Representative government and representation --- Republics --- Former Soviet bloc --- Second world (Former communist countries) --- Communist countries --- General. --- Social Sciences --- Political Science