1. Introduction
„Die EU braucht eine Pause zur Besinnung, zur Selbstfindung, zur Konsolidierung.” By proclaiming that the European Union (EU) needs a break for reflection and consolidation, Egon Bahr, who has been an intimate and consultant of the former German chancellor Willy Brandt as well as one of the most important German politicians as far as foreign policy is concerned, is pointing at a major problem of the before said institution. Since the EU enlargement of 10 new states has taken place at the 1st of May 2004, the problem which has been addressed before is even more up to date. Especially the recent argumentation about a common constitution, which is overdue to both providing a proper legal capacity as well as a capability to act, has been proofing that the EU is still far away from a strong, functioning political union.
But how is it possible to create such a proper union consisting of 25 members, and most probably 27 by the year 2007, consisting of basically national states being still heavily occupied with dealing with their own backgrounds especially if one has a closer look the former communist states? Is there any strategy of the lowest common denominator of policy advice or do one have to identify the (communist) past in relation to present developments ?
Facing this problem, the main purpose of this analysis will be an evaluation of different political transition theories and rating strategies which have been particularly taken into account by the former states behind the iron curtain. Finally this work is aiming at a probably existing connection between a successful political transition and a deeper integration into the European Union.
For that reason the first part will give an overall view about the transition issue in general followed by the most relevant transition theories and methods of rating democratic stability thereby mainly focusing on political changes. Since the analysis is only concerning countries gathering the EU, the next part will deal with peculiarities regarding the main political criteria for entering the before mentioned union. The last part should provide a conclusion about the success resp. failure of the scrutinized theories as well as the ongoing European integration.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Political Transition
2.1. Transition in general
2.2. Methods of evaluating political transition
2.2.1. The Washington Consensus
2.2.2. The question of rating democracies
2.2.3. Political cleavages
2.3. Strategic options for counties in transition
3. EU integration
3.1. Association Agreements
3.2. Association Criteria
4. Conclusion
5. References
Research Objective and Core Themes
The primary objective of this research paper is to evaluate various political transition theories and rating strategies utilized by former communist countries after the collapse of the Soviet system, while exploring the potential correlation between successful political transition and deeper integration into the European Union.
- Theoretical frameworks of political and economic transition.
- Evaluation methods for democratic stability and political reform.
- Strategic options available to post-communist states during the transition process.
- The role of minority issues and political cleavages in democratic consolidation.
- The impact of EU Association Agreements and Copenhagen Criteria on transition states.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Transition in general
While searching for a definition of the term transition, the major problem is the exact point of view from which one is approaching this issue. As this work is focusing on former communist countries one specification has been already done. Because of that, this analysis will initially take the particularities of these states into account.
After the breakdown of the pure totalitarian regime of the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin in 1953 and the so called secret speech of Nikita Chruschtschow at the XX. party congress of the CPSU in 1956, it is safe to assume that the socialist system has been changing constantly already, even though in its frame of Marxist-Leninist propaganda. By following the argumentation of Vladimir Cvijanović these changes had basically two aims either perfection or reforms. Against the background perfection did not affect the constitutional system, but reforms, in the sense of changes within the particular elements of the socialist economic systems. The realization of this fact is as so far important as Cvijanović is figuring out two dimensions referring to the changes of socialist systems, depth and radicalism. The more dynamic the reforms in the economic dimension might have been the deeper and radical has been the impact on the whole system, which has finally led to a break-up regarded as the initial point of the transition process. This initial point, mostly associated with the term revolution, may originate from different incidents, e.g. ecological fear (as it was the case in Estonia), economic breakdown or political motivated revolts, basically aiming at the deposition of the communist party.
As, like already mentioned, this revolution is adequate with the breakdown of the entire system of society, the definition of transition emerges automatically. Considering that, transition is supposed to be the process of the simultaneous change of the entire society system concerning the political, economical, legal as well as social behaviour dimension.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter highlights the challenges facing the European Union regarding enlargement and sets the scope for examining transition theories in post-communist states.
2. Political Transition: This section covers definitions of transition, various evaluation methods such as the Washington Consensus and democracy rating systems, and discusses political cleavages and strategic options for countries in transition.
3. EU integration: This chapter analyzes the mechanisms of European integration, specifically focusing on Association Agreements and the Copenhagen Criteria as frameworks for transition states.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the theoretical findings and evaluates the link between a successful transition process and European integration.
5. References: This section lists all academic sources and reports utilized throughout the research paper.
Keywords
Political Transition, Post-communist states, European Union, EU Integration, Democratization, Washington Consensus, Democratic stability, Association Agreements, Copenhagen Criteria, Political cleavages, Minority issues, Nation building, Economic reform, Political reform, Transition strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines political transition theories and rating strategies applied to former communist countries, analyzing their effectiveness in guiding these nations toward democratic stability and integration with the European Union.
What are the central thematic fields addressed in the work?
The core themes include theories of political transformation, economic reform strategies, methods of rating democratic functioning, and the influence of EU accession policies on national development.
What is the central research question?
The research explores whether there is a verifiable connection between the implementation of specific political transition strategies and a state's successful deeper integration into the European Union.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author utilizes a descriptive and evaluative analysis of existing transition literature, economic reform models, and political democracy ratings, alongside a review of formal EU criteria.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the transition process in general, the Washington Consensus, democracy rating systems (Freedom House, World Bank), the impact of political cleavages, and the specific role of EU-sponsored Association Agreements and Criteria.
What keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include political transition, democratization, EU integration, post-communist transformation, and democratic stability.
How does the author define the "transition" process?
Transition is defined as the simultaneous transformation of a society across political, economic, legal, and social dimensions, moving away from a command economy and totalitarianism toward a market-based democracy.
Why are political cleavages significant for transition countries?
Cleavages are important because they serve as indicators of societal fragmentation and conflict, which can threaten democratic stability if not managed effectively during the transition period.
How do the Copenhagen Criteria influence candidate countries?
They provide precise political and economic benchmarks, such as institutional stability and the protection of human rights, which candidate states must meet to qualify for European Union membership.
- Quote paper
- Magister Christian Vogel (Author), 2005, Post-Communist Transition - Theory in political transition, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75139
