Research On Democratic Development In Eastern European Countries In New Century

In the late 80s and early 90s of last century, Eastern European countries experienced the historic upheavals which opened a full range of difficult process of institutional transformation and reconstruction:they attempted to establish a Western-style multiparty parliamentary democracy political system,to build a market economy based on private ownership; to make an effort to integrate into the European process,to join in the EU and NATO and to realize their dreams of "Return to Europe". These three processes could be concluded as "Democratization", "Marketization" and "Europeanization", which are closely linked and mutual influence. It worth noted that the democratic transition is a forerunner and an important aspect for the institutional transformation in Eastern European countries. The political transition process in Eastern European countries during more than 20 years, which focused on the "Democratization", can mainly be divided into two main stages. These two stages linked and overlapped each other and also focused on different points. The 10 years from the upheaval to the end of last century was defined as the first stage which mainly focused on the realization of the conversion of the political system and establishment of basic framework of a new multi-party parliamentary democracy. The 10 years since new century was defined as the second stage which primarily focused on improving and consolidating the new politic system, further to promote democratic development. It should be said that Eastern European countries have made some success in democratic development under the effort of more than 20 years; however, they are still face with many difficulties and problems. The primary task should still focus on exploring the democratic development path suitable for their national conditions and establish a good guidance relationship between the "local factors" and transformation process. This research studied the democratic development in Eastern European countries of 10 years since the new century, analyzed the measures and achievements of democratic development, pointed out the major problems in democratic development process, discussed the internal and external factors affecting democratic development, and concluded some enlightenment of democratic development in Eastern European countries. This research not only has important theoretical significance, but also helps us to folly understand the basic framework and development trend of political development in Eastern European countries. In addition, it is helpful for promoting comprehensive development of the relationship between the Eastern European countries and China. In consequence, this research has great practical significance.This research consisted of four chapters. Chapter 1 briefly introduced some definition and relevant concepts; pointed out the theoretical and practice significance of democratic development of Eastern European countries since new century; after then, the state and art of democratic development of Eastern European countries was studied. In Chapter2, the measurements and achievements for promoting the democratic development in Poland, Czech, Hungary in new century were concluded using three evaluation indexes of democratic development as a reference point. Meanwhile, the main problems existing in democratic development were analyzed. Chapter 3 folly discussed the factors affecting the democratic development in Eastern Europe countries, which include internal factors, such as history heritage, economic changes, and political culture and so on, and external factors, such as international financial crisis, Europe debt crisis, the process of European integration, and European political thoughts. In addition, this research also illustrated that it actually is the results of many factors working together, such as history versus reality, domestic versus international, and so on. Chapter 4 concluded some enlightenment on the basis of the democratic development in Eastern Europe countries. Although democracy is an inevitable trend of political development in the world, and also is the inherent requirement of political development in Eastern European countries, the establishment and perfection of democracy is a very complicated system project which definitely cannot be accomplished in an action. Meanwhile, it is significantly important to explore a democratic development way suitable for their national conditions based on their actual situation, not copy models from other countries. In addition, it is also important to correctly handle the construction of democracy and law, phony democracy and real democracy, the relationship between democracy and efficiency and further to make the democracy become a real and sharp weapon for solving practical problems.