Democratization Challenges in Eastern Europe

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Questions and Answers

How is democratic backsliding conceptualized according to scholars?

As a complete lack of democratic engagement

As a singular event that occurs suddenly

As a strict dichotomy of 'yes' or 'no' responses

As a continuum of political processes (correct)

What is a common method used by incumbents to eliminate checks and balances in a democracy?

Seizing control of constitutional courts and prosecutors (correct)

Promoting independent advocacy groups

Encouraging public debate on policy issues

Enhancing electoral transparency

What role does media play in the process of democratic backsliding?

Spreads illiberal narratives funded by the state (correct)

Acts as a watchdog of the government

Encourages diversity of opinion in public spheres

Fosters open dialogue among citizens

What is meant by 'parallel civil society' in the context of democratic backsliding?

A replacement for existing civil society groups that espouses ethnopopulist views Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects an attack on democratic institutions through legislation?

Policies vilifying women and LGBTQ+ communities Signup and view all the answers

What are the stages of democratization as suggested in the content?

Opening, breakthrough, consolidation Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of feckless pluralism?

Regular elections with little actual effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following assumptions about transitioning countries is deemed inaccurate?

Moving away from dictatorship equates to moving towards democracy Signup and view all the answers

What factor is emphasized as important in shaping political outcomes in democratic transitions?

The concentration of wealth and structural conditions Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is suggested regarding the impact of regular elections on democratic legitimacy?

They may not overcome underlying structural issues Signup and view all the answers

In dominant power systems, what is a common challenge faced by the state?

Weakness and poor performance of the state Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a part of the assumptions about elections in democratic transitions?

They should replace structural reforms Signup and view all the answers

How do underlying conditions affect the democratic process according to the content?

They are paramount in determining democratic success Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to the media's autonomy from political parties in Austria?

The last party-owned daily newspaper was shut down last year. Signup and view all the answers

Which dimension indicates the media's autonomy in content creation?

Professionalism which encompasses journalists' norms and values. Signup and view all the answers

What effect has media logic had on political practices?

Organizations have increased their resource allocation to media monitoring. Signup and view all the answers

How do politicians adapt their behavior to media logic?

By diversifying communication channels and increasing output. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of commercialism within media practices?

Competing to deliver an affordable mix of content for the widest audience. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of media influence is central to public opinion formation?

Media reduces the complexity of political messages for broader comprehension. Signup and view all the answers

What role does media technology play in news media according to media logic?

It forces adaptation to the specific formats desired by audiences. Signup and view all the answers

What trend is evident in the campaign strategies of political parties?

There is a trend toward personalizing campaign posters. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Challenges of Democratization in Eastern Europe

Capitalism by democratic design? Democratic theory facing the triple transition in East Central Europe.
Convergence theories (1960-70s): two rival political-economic systems would converge more or less rapidly.
East: enriched with market elements
West: enriched with state intervention into production and distribution processes.
"Reforms from above" ruled out by Soviet leadership, leading to complications and reforms or revolutions from below.
Soviet revolution (Gorbachev): from the top
Many other states and groups of states underwent a transition to democracy, but were different from central and eastern europe in two respects.
Territorial integrity and organization of each country preserved, whereas in central and eastern Europe, the scene was dominated by territorial disputes, migrations, minority or nationality conflicts and corresponding secessionist longings.

Democratic Backsliding in Eastern Europe

Contemporary democracies tend to erode gradually and under legal disguise
General disagreement about how momentous the current wave of autocratization is
Global reversal challenges many established democracies -> autocratization
Decline of more blatant forms of backsliding (military coups and election day vote fraud)
More clandestine ways of autocratization (harassment of opposition, subversion of horizontal accountability)
Risk of military coups has declined, risk of self-coup remains
Executive aggrandizement: elected executives weaken checks on executive power one by one.
Illiberal democracy: subverting electoral standards without completely breaking the democratic facade.
Electoral authoritarianism: winning through subtler tactics (censoring and harassing media, restricting civil society, political parties, undermining autonomy in election management).

Breakdown of Democracy

Requires a clear approach to distinguish between democracy and dictatorship.
Excludes: undermining of democratic institutions (autogolpe) and unfinished degeneration of qualities in democracies.
Problematic for contemporary period (rare occurrences of sudden autocratization – coups d’état).
Autocratization: matter of degree, possible in both democracies and autocracies.
Democracies can lose traits without fully breaking down.

Polarisation in Austrian Politics

Four distinct manifestations of polarisation
Ideological consistency
Ideological divergence
Perceived polarisation
Affective polarisation.
Lelkes focuses on polarisation, mass public and partisans.
Americans at the mass level have not become more consistent ideologically nor diverged, but partisans have.
Perceptions of polarisation have increased among partisans and parties increasingly dislike each other.

Media and Politics in Austria

Media capture: corrupting relationship between political actors and media organizations
Threat to media independence, distortions of public opinion, suppression of dissent, and undermining of investigative journalism.
Instances of media being used to manipulate public opinion.
Lack of mechanisms for media accountability.

Party Colonization of the State

Parties solve collective action & social choice problems.
Collective action problem: using organizational structure and infrastructure to provide coherent positions.
Social choice problem: resolving conflict over individual politicians' priorities with a collective consensus.
Power of parties to appoint people in public/semi-public life.
Parties exchange resources (public goods/services) for support from clients.
Direct exchanges can be considered illegal.
Motivations for power: control & reward, especially useful when meritocracy is lacking.

Revolutionary Transformation in Eastern Europe

Territorial issue: determination and consolidation of borders
Democracy: dissolution of party monopoly, replacement by constitutionally tamed exercise of authority and party competition, guarantees of basic human and citizen rights (glasnost) and economic and property order (perestroika)
Stages of process in normal western states (nation-state to capitalism to democracy) occur simultaneously in eastern Europe.
Only particular conditions enable the simultaneous implementation of market economy and democracy.

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Description

This quiz explores the complexities of democratization in Eastern Europe, focusing on the transition from Soviet influence to democratic governance. It examines the economic and political reforms, territorial disputes, and the role of state interventions that shape the region's political landscape. Analyze the factors contributing to both successful democracies and instances of democratic backsliding.