Theories of democratization and patterns of regime change in Eastern Europe

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Abstract
The transition from communist rule to democracy has taken different forms in different countries of Eastern Europe, and the pace of democratization has varied markedly. These variations pose challenges to theoretical models of democratization. The globalization of the world economy, together with the broader process of modernization, is one factor that sheds light on the differentiated pattern, however difficult to apply in particular cases. By contrast, theories dwelling on elite competition and leadership strategy, while holding some explanatory value, present problems, given the contrasting experiences of Poland and Hungary (where the approach appears to hold) and Czechoslovakia (where it does not). The international context appears to have been of prime significance, in producing an environment in which authoritarian regimes find it difficult to function.