The State and Governance in Post-Transition Period - sponsored by IPSA

Abstract

The great expectations in the beginning of regime change with a goal to form democracy are often followed by deep societal frustration few years later. Both expectations and frustration are probably inevitable part of any radical transformation, unfortunately hopes and individual dreams are never fulfilled. The real evaluation of the transformation process can be done only later, two to three decades of development affirm the quality of institutionalization and consolidation of new regime. Almost thirty years after it is still difficult to evaluate the results of transformation in former communist countries. On the one hand, many countries became members of EU and NATO or they were invited to enter the “club” , that can be interpreted as an international certificate of full-fledged democracy. On the other hand, we are confronted with very weak, captured and fragile/failed states. It seems that state building and democracy building were separated processes, that building of the institutions, principles of accountability and oversight were underestimated. This panel would like to answer several questions connected with such a situation: What is the role of sequencing in political transitions of states. modes of governance and regimes? What is the role of political parties in the formation of clientelistic network, why political parties are in post-transition countries often interpreted as a risk for further democratic development? Can democracy defend itself in post-transition period? And can new typology of militant democracies be useful analytical tool for analysing diverse political regimes, their potential for regime fall or regime regeneration.

Title	Details
Carts and Horses, Institutes and Practices. Varieties of Sequencing and Outcomes of Political Transitions	View Paper Details
Wrongdoings in Political Parties' Funding as a Risk for Democracy – Lessons from the Czech Republic	View Paper Details
The Last Ex-Communist Party Still Undefeated	View Paper Details
Can Democracy in the Western Balkans Defend itself in the Post-Transition Period?	View Paper Details
Toward the Typology of Militant Democracies	View Paper Details