Favorable Conditions and Electoral Revolutions

Issue Date October 2006
Volume 17
Issue 4
Page Numbers 5-18
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From 1996 to 2005 a wave of electoral revolutions swept through east Central Europe, the Balkans, and Soviet successor states. The success of these revolutions and their concentration in the post-communist world reflect favorable political and social conditions, as well as the fact that the common structures and policies of communist regimes created unusually good conditions for diffusion of the electoral model after communism’s end. These structural conditions led international donors to concentrate democracy assistance in this region. Efforts to support electoral revolutions in countries with less supportive conditions and less favorable attitudes toward the West and democracy are likely to be more problematic.

About the Authors

Sharon Wolchik

Sharon L. Wolchik is professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University and coauthor (with Valerie J. Bunce) of Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries (2011).

View all work by Sharon Wolchik

Valerie J. Bunce

Valerie J. Bunce is the Aaron Binenkorb Professor of International Studies and professor of government at Cornell University.

View all work by Valerie J. Bunce