Political Participation in Central and Eastern Europe. Results of the 1999 European Values Surveys

Abstract

Many Western and Russian analysts believe that post-Soviet Europe is unique and not subject to explanation by general social theories that articulate patterns of transition from totalitarianism to democracy and the market economy. For example, according to some of the early comparative analyses of East European, and particularly Polish, economic reforms were called successful in comparison to Russian economic reforms, but later they were failures. Unlike the changes that took place in some other countries, the collapse of communism in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus brought no change in the ruling elite. As a result, three former elite groups have become the basis for the newly emerging political class:

• parts of the previous bureaucracy that adapted to the new political and economic situation (the strong top business managers);

• the peak of the new bourgeoisie (“oligarchs”) who have merged either with state power or with the criminal element; and

• the armed forces and police, including particularly the special services.

“A country is impossible to ruin until its people becomes a grave-digger of its own security; neither it is possible to save a country until its people takes concern about security into its own hands.” (Daniel Webster, American political figure and spokesman, 1782–1852)

The editors are indebted to Charles Lewis Taylor for his extensive work in producing a polished English version of this chapter.