Demokratizacija europskih tranzicijskih država
Democratization of European transition countries

Summary/Abstract: System changes in Eastern Europe are different from transformation autocratic system in South Europe (1974), Latin America (since 1985) and Eastern Asia (1983), which are also included in the third wave of democratization. Unlike transformation in other parts of the world, two or three transformation processes were going on at the same time in postcommunist Eastern Europe: political transformation (transition from dictatorship to democracy), economic transformation (transition from commanding to market economy) and in some cases state transformation such as dissolution of Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and SFRJ. However, democratization process was not being conducted in the same way in all former socialist countries. Historical, cultural and economic differences, as well as the character of former socialist system, had a significant influence on that. For example, reformed communists controlled the transformation process in Rumania for seven years, what was the longest period, due to the special form of rule established by Ceseausecu. From the other side, democratic developments in Poland were lead by the movement Solidarity and with the support of Catholic Church they succeeded to suppress hegemony of the state over society.

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