Post‐communist politics: Towards democratic pluralism?

Abstract

The defeat of the attempted coup and the collapse of communist rule were widely interpreted as a victory for an activist citizenry now capable of sustaining a democratic order. At least three circumstances appear to suggest that this would be a hasty judgement. The rule of law, crucial in sustaining a boundary between state and society, remained poorly developed and was prejudiced by many of the actions of the post‐communist authorities. Political parties capable of sustaining stable and effective government were still weakly articulated; and popular attitudes showed little sign of a commitment to democratic and pluralist values. The establishment of formally democratic institutions was likely to be of limited significance so long as the culture of democratic self‐government had made so little progress.