Contested Visions: Elite Conceptions of Democracy in the EU Eastern Neighborhood

This paper explores the convergence and divergence in understandings of democracy between political elites in donor countries, specifically the European Union (EU), and recipient countries within its Eastern Neighborhood (Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova). Based on data from a unique large-N elite survey conducted in the second half of 2024, the study seeks to identify specific patterns in how ideas of political order align or diverge between these contexts and to assess the impact on the extent and manner in which democracy promotion is contested in recipient countries. Contestation, understood as an interactive practice involving the expression of disapproval for the norm of democracy promotion, emerges as a key dynamic shaping the success or failure of such initiatives. By examining how contestation manifests and influences donor-recipient relations, the study aims to shed light on the conditions under which democracy promotion is supported, resisted, or adapted. Although the research is ongoing, preliminary observations suggest that divergences in democratic conceptions may reflect deeper tensions between externally-driven democratization efforts and local priorities influenced by unique political, cultural, and geopolitical factors. This paper contributes to the scholarship on democracy promotion by providing an empirical basis for understanding the complex interplay between donor and recipient elites in the EU Eastern Neighborhood and by emphasizing the need for more nuanced, context-sensitive approaches that accommodate pluralistic interpretations of democratic governance. The carefully elaborated conceptual framework for data collection enables further extension to other donor-recipient constellations for additional comparative research.