Pub Date : 2022-09-13DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2122047
P. Guasti, J. Bílek
ABSTRACT We take the demand-side perspective of Sputnik V, trying to answer why facing vaccine scarcity, some countries opt for Sputnik V, and others do not. To show how the pandemic tests the institutional safeguards and soft guardrails of liberal democracy, we compiled a unique dataset and combined statistical analysis and case studies. While our quantitative analysis shows that the illiberalism of the party in power is the main explanatory factor in the import of Sputnik V, our qualitative case studies illustrate under what conditions institutional guardrails withstand the pressure of populist and illiberal leaders.
{"title":"The demand side of vaccine politics and pandemic illiberalism","authors":"P. Guasti, J. Bílek","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2122047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2122047","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT We take the demand-side perspective of Sputnik V, trying to answer why facing vaccine scarcity, some countries opt for Sputnik V, and others do not. To show how the pandemic tests the institutional safeguards and soft guardrails of liberal democracy, we compiled a unique dataset and combined statistical analysis and case studies. While our quantitative analysis shows that the illiberalism of the party in power is the main explanatory factor in the import of Sputnik V, our qualitative case studies illustrate under what conditions institutional guardrails withstand the pressure of populist and illiberal leaders.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73186075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-07DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2120474
Igor Vidačak
ABSTRACT The relationship between interest groups and national governments in shaping the decision-making in the Council of the EU is still largely unobserved. By focusing on the case study of Croatia, this article contests the general assumptions of liberal intergovernmentalism about the process and character of national preference formation and demonstrates that economic and societal interests do not have primacy in influencing a national government’s positions in the Council. It is argued that the legacy of a country’s EU accession process, coupled with weak oversight and accountability mechanisms, are among the most important factors in explaining the government's non-inclusive management of EU affairs.
{"title":"The role of organised interests in shaping Croatia's negotiating positions in the Council of the EU","authors":"Igor Vidačak","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2120474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2120474","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT\u0000 The relationship between interest groups and national governments in shaping the decision-making in the Council of the EU is still largely unobserved. By focusing on the case study of Croatia, this article contests the general assumptions of liberal intergovernmentalism about the process and character of national preference formation and demonstrates that economic and societal interests do not have primacy in influencing a national government’s positions in the Council. It is argued that the legacy of a country’s EU accession process, coupled with weak oversight and accountability mechanisms, are among the most important factors in explaining the government's non-inclusive management of EU affairs.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76649223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-29DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2102608
P. Pospieszna, Patrick L. Lown, Simone Dietrich
ABSTRACT This study examines democracy promotion efforts that target young people in post-Soviet countries. Specifically we assess the effectiveness of a civic education programme in Poland in improving attitudes toward democracy and self-perceptions of political efficacy. The analysis of quasi-experimental data reveals that young citizens from post-Soviet states (Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine) were more likely to show greater support of democratic institutions, hold democratic attitudes, and perceive themselves as having political efficacy. However, we interpret the results with caution as changes in the attitudes were not substantial. This may be attributed to the fact that democracy education programmes attract already politically and socially active young people.
{"title":"Building active youth in post-Soviet countries through civic education programmes: evidence from Poland","authors":"P. Pospieszna, Patrick L. Lown, Simone Dietrich","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2102608","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2102608","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This study examines democracy promotion efforts that target young people in post-Soviet countries. Specifically we assess the effectiveness of a civic education programme in Poland in improving attitudes toward democracy and self-perceptions of political efficacy. The analysis of quasi-experimental data reveals that young citizens from post-Soviet states (Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine) were more likely to show greater support of democratic institutions, hold democratic attitudes, and perceive themselves as having political efficacy. However, we interpret the results with caution as changes in the attitudes were not substantial. This may be attributed to the fact that democracy education programmes attract already politically and socially active young people.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73947382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-18DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2100767
Igor Guardiancich
{"title":"Taking stock of shock: social consequences of the 1989 revolutions","authors":"Igor Guardiancich","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2100767","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2100767","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77601347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2092842
Yulia Kuzmina
ABSTRACT Between August 2018 and January 2021, the Shiyes railway station in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia became the site of numerous protests against the construction of a landfill. At the core of the mobilisation was a protest camp near the construction site, where activists confronted the police and security guards. Through an analysis of self-made online narratives on the protest camp, this paper explores the framing strategies of the camp's daily routine and significant events. Paper demonstrates the incorporation of traditionalism as an ideological resource in the narratives on gender, spirituality, militarism, geographic identity, and postcolonialism.
{"title":"“The Defenders of Shiyes”: traditionalism as a mobilisation resource in a Russian protest camp","authors":"Yulia Kuzmina","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2092842","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2092842","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Between August 2018 and January 2021, the Shiyes railway station in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia became the site of numerous protests against the construction of a landfill. At the core of the mobilisation was a protest camp near the construction site, where activists confronted the police and security guards. Through an analysis of self-made online narratives on the protest camp, this paper explores the framing strategies of the camp's daily routine and significant events. Paper demonstrates the incorporation of traditionalism as an ideological resource in the narratives on gender, spirituality, militarism, geographic identity, and postcolonialism.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89594218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2092843
Claudia-Yvette Matthes
ABSTRACT What research on democratic backsliding often overlooks is that protest against the decline of rule of law also emerges inside state institutions. In Poland, the judges' associations are using legal means, organising public events and urging the European institutions to stand firm towards the Polish government. In this article, I analyse the judiciary's collective actions and motivations regarding on- and off-bench mobilisation. Based on in-depth interviews with judges, I show how they focus on litigation but use lobbying and protesting as complementary tools. Moreover, their networking and adaptation of measures to changing circumstances proves their ability to act strategically.
{"title":"Judges as activists: how Polish judges mobilise to defend the rule of law","authors":"Claudia-Yvette Matthes","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2092843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2092843","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT What research on democratic backsliding often overlooks is that protest against the decline of rule of law also emerges inside state institutions. In Poland, the judges' associations are using legal means, organising public events and urging the European institutions to stand firm towards the Polish government. In this article, I analyse the judiciary's collective actions and motivations regarding on- and off-bench mobilisation. Based on in-depth interviews with judges, I show how they focus on litigation but use lobbying and protesting as complementary tools. Moreover, their networking and adaptation of measures to changing circumstances proves their ability to act strategically.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85484989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-14DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2086862
L. Popescu, Lucian Vesalon
ABSTRACT This paper examines how a radical right populist party uses anti-communism to produce an anti-establishment discourse and consolidate ultra-conservative political values. At the end of 2020 The Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) entered the Romanian Parliament, taking many by surprise. We indicate how they have capitalised not only on the “normalisation” of radical right themes, but also on pre-existing anti-communist discourses. After demonstrating how anti-communism has structured the post-socialist Romanian politics, we reveal how it was used as an identifier of the political establishment and how AUR operated a gradual replacement of “communism” with “neo-Marxism” in their discourse.
{"title":"“They all are the red plague”: anti-communism and the Romanian radical right populists","authors":"L. Popescu, Lucian Vesalon","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2086862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2086862","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper examines how a radical right populist party uses anti-communism to produce an anti-establishment discourse and consolidate ultra-conservative political values. At the end of 2020 The Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) entered the Romanian Parliament, taking many by surprise. We indicate how they have capitalised not only on the “normalisation” of radical right themes, but also on pre-existing anti-communist discourses. After demonstrating how anti-communism has structured the post-socialist Romanian politics, we reveal how it was used as an identifier of the political establishment and how AUR operated a gradual replacement of “communism” with “neo-Marxism” in their discourse.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83277422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-14DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2086863
Dimitri Gugushvili, B. Meuleman
ABSTRACT The post-communist countries diverge massively with regard to social protection spending. This paper investigates its causes by estimating random-effects models using time-series cross-sectional data (1995–2019) for twenty-three transition countries. We find that part of the divergence relates to the severity of the economic shock suffered in the first years of transition, as well as economic performance and participation in global trade in the subsequent years. Surprisingly, the degree of democracy is not related to welfare spending, but post-communist countries do spend more when their population includes a larger proportion of elderly people and when unemployment rates are higher.
{"title":"Dynamics of social protection spending in the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union: an enduring legacy of the transition shock?","authors":"Dimitri Gugushvili, B. Meuleman","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2086863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2086863","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The post-communist countries diverge massively with regard to social protection spending. This paper investigates its causes by estimating random-effects models using time-series cross-sectional data (1995–2019) for twenty-three transition countries. We find that part of the divergence relates to the severity of the economic shock suffered in the first years of transition, as well as economic performance and participation in global trade in the subsequent years. Surprisingly, the degree of democracy is not related to welfare spending, but post-communist countries do spend more when their population includes a larger proportion of elderly people and when unemployment rates are higher.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81694026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-14DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2084078
A. Abdoubaetova
ABSTRACT In recent years, we observe the growth of illiberal discourses in Kyrgyzstan. Illiberal public activists are particularly active in engaging with the Kyrgyz-speaking population and spreading conservative values. This paper studies the narratives of illiberal public activists and reveals three main trends in their speeches: promoting strong anti-western sentiments; combining Kyrgyz traditional values and ethnic identity with the religious doctrines for a bigger impact; and actively using digital and social media and focusing on youth and informal education as their main strategies in promoting illiberal thoughts. This paper argues that promotion of conservative ideas by the Kyrgyz-speaking illiberal public activists is a home-grown process, not directly influenced by Russian illiberal propaganda. It is a result of evolving re-traditionalisation, growth of religious values and anti-westernism.
{"title":"Making sense of conservative narratives in Kyrgyzstan: the case of illiberal public activists","authors":"A. Abdoubaetova","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2084078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2084078","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In recent years, we observe the growth of illiberal discourses in Kyrgyzstan. Illiberal public activists are particularly active in engaging with the Kyrgyz-speaking population and spreading conservative values. This paper studies the narratives of illiberal public activists and reveals three main trends in their speeches: promoting strong anti-western sentiments; combining Kyrgyz traditional values and ethnic identity with the religious doctrines for a bigger impact; and actively using digital and social media and focusing on youth and informal education as their main strategies in promoting illiberal thoughts. This paper argues that promotion of conservative ideas by the Kyrgyz-speaking illiberal public activists is a home-grown process, not directly influenced by Russian illiberal propaganda. It is a result of evolving re-traditionalisation, growth of religious values and anti-westernism.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90639625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-14DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2022.2086861
Siim Trumm
ABSTRACT The literature on post-communist democracies has traditionally suggested that expensive media-based campaigns are key to electoral success. Using data from the 2011, 2015, and 2019 Estonian Candidate Study, this article provides an up-to-date evaluation of how important monetary and non-monetary campaign efforts are in shaping candidates' electoral performance in a post-communist democracy. It finds that, while campaign spending continues to influence candidates' electoral fortunes, candidates need to significantly outspend their rivals to enjoy a meaningful increase in their vote share. There is also emerging evidence that candidates are starting to electorally benefit from devoting more time to promoting their candidacy.
{"title":"Winning votes: the comparative importance of money and time on parliamentary candidates’ electoral performance in Estonia","authors":"Siim Trumm","doi":"10.1080/21599165.2022.2086861","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2022.2086861","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The literature on post-communist democracies has traditionally suggested that expensive media-based campaigns are key to electoral success. Using data from the 2011, 2015, and 2019 Estonian Candidate Study, this article provides an up-to-date evaluation of how important monetary and non-monetary campaign efforts are in shaping candidates' electoral performance in a post-communist democracy. It finds that, while campaign spending continues to influence candidates' electoral fortunes, candidates need to significantly outspend their rivals to enjoy a meaningful increase in their vote share. There is also emerging evidence that candidates are starting to electorally benefit from devoting more time to promoting their candidacy.","PeriodicalId":46570,"journal":{"name":"East European Politics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2022-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78865816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}