Comparative Transitions to Democracy Masaryk University in Brno Unit VI. Communism Collapsing and the Total Transitions Lecturer: Oscar Hidalgo-Redondo Date: 5 May 2009 6.1The Third Wave and Transitions from Communism The third wave transitions 1970s in Southern Europe 1980s to Latin America and other continents 1989 year of wonders for democratisation, “annus mirabilis” divide East-West crumbles European Communist countries abandon socialism processes of democratisation took place 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union Constitutionally this processes are very similar to those of the 1970s-1980s constitutions inspired in Southern European models similar constitutional protections civil rights and participation social chapters third generation rights But modes of transition were different idiosyncrasy of the transformation part of the third wave? or a fourth wave? Different authors take different position classic transitologists normal processes of democratisation same patterns of Southern transitions third wave transitions “area” specialists stress the specificities of the Eastern democratisations need to incorporate substantial new variables in the analysis fourth wave transitions 6.2 Transitions from Communism: How different? Transitions to Communism, very complex transformation of the political structures Communist parties removed from centre regenerating all the rest of the structures political political-administrative bureacracies social institutions nomenklatura economic control limited private sector economic ethos not proper for market economies culture of labour long lasting regimes, strong effects on civil societies totalitarianism? total attempt to control societies mobilising societies very limited pluralism Realignment in international relations and neighbours East bloc towards Western countries International organisations: EU, NATO, GATT nationalism and minorities border disputes statehood A new type of transition: total transition? more complex than ever more areas in which the transformation takes place synchrony of the transformation processes taking place at the same time a political transition a economic transition a societal transition Dahrendorf 3 clocks the hour of the constitutional lawyer the hour of the politician the hour of the citizen 6.3 The Features of the Post-1989 Transitions Politically the post-communist transformations were not too different regeneration a system of political participation new political parties old banned parties institutionalisations of social mov. Constitutionally very similar advanced system of political freedoms social rights post-modern values and rights Processes of lustration initiated Economic transformation role of the state sector need to open it up for private economic actors to participate external actors 3 processes involved in the economic transformation economic de-regulation elimination of the regulation created by the economic regimes very limiting creation of new set of regulations serving the needs of a capitalist economy restititution devolution to the legitimate owners the assets nationalised by the communist regimes a question of justice processes of nationalisation recreation of a national entrepreneurial class problems, some of the restituted assets to foreign hands impoverishing the states viability of some businesses Privatisation allowing the private investment, owning the former state firms involve citizens different methods selling flagship industries to investors voucher privatisations stock two approaches gradualism shock therapy problems legal framework around weak abuses and corruption firms collapse 6.4 Modes of Transition Diverse types of transition heterogeneous group one common element: communist regimes but different societal realities different economic structures 3 main groups countries with a society demanding democratisation countries with a society that did not challenge communism countries with societies that did not experience liberalism First group, countries with a mature society for democracy societies mobilised against the communist regime societies that have rebelled violence held the regime together threat of external action Hungary, Poland or East Germany Easier transition transformation supported actively by society social structures already generated Second group, countries with a civil society not so active mimetic transition TV broadcasting of events in Hungary, Germany or Poland regimes collapsed Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Baltic Republics, Yugoslavia regimes lacking legitimation but societal democratic structures need to generate them Third group of countries, those that never experienced real liberalism Russia and post-Soviet republics need to understand the meaning of democracy much longer processes of democratic building 6.5 Models of Transition: Poland Paradigmatic case of society rebellious to socialism regime that was never able to destroy pluralism in the society existence of social institutions opposed to the regime political opposition Catholic Church Solidarity trade union from 1980 Stalinist period Bierut Gomulka, national socialism Gierek, consumer communism Jaruzelsky, martial law By 1989, regime was very weak and lacked legitimacy; 25% population members of Solidarity Jaruzelsky decides to engage Solidarity in round table talks open up the parliament to certain competitions 1/3 lower chamber Senate in 1989 elections overwhelming victory for Solidarity Old regime completely de-legitimised by the results Solidarity pressed the communist officials to initiate a transition Transition is internal internal forces leading it importance of international framework end of the Brezhnev doctrine role of the West and the Vatican Models of Transition: Czechoslovakia Very different to Poland Communist regime, strong support after 1945 Stalinist period, Gottwald Zapotocky-Novotny, post-stalinism 1968 Dubcek, Prague Spring Socialism with human face Warsaw Pact intervention Normalization, Husak Limited opposition: Charter 77 Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted (VONS) Hundreds 1980s decay but transition does not begin until 1989 November 1989, students demonstrations Mimetic transition massive participation when collapse of communism in Europe was broadcasted primacy of the external over the internal society not fully prepared for democracy