Cultural Conditions of the Transition to Liberal Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe

Following the introduction of democratic institutions in the countries of central and eastern Europe, the question of the consolidation of these newly implemented democracies arises. One of the most important conditions for consolidation is support for democracy from the community of citizens in the respective countries. In the theoretical frame of reference of this analysis, it is postulated that, although high initial support is to be expected, only enduring positive experience with the reality of democracy makes this a stable attitude. Only where this is the case can one speak of a consolidated democracy. The empirical analysis on the basis of representative surveys in 11 central and eastern European countries (conducted between 1990 and 1991, in East Germany 1992) indicates that there is indeed initial approval of democracy as a specific form of political order. But it also shows that there was no positive feedback from experience with the reality of democracy to sustain this initial support. The reality of democracy was judged to be bad in all countries. A causal analysis makes it clear that the respondents' negative assessment of the reality of democracy in their own countries depends primarily on the perceived performance of the respective governments. In view of the problems all governments in central and eastern European countries were and are facing, the positive feedback necessary to consolidate democracy in these countries is unlikely to manifest itself. The question of the consolidation of democracy in central and eastern Europe is accordingly still an open one.