Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine

Abstract

AbstractChapter 5 discusses the (limited) democratic success of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, and the oscillations between “democratic moments” and more authoritarian periods, which stem from a combination of three factors. First, authoritarian weakness has prevented the more hard-core authoritarian rulers from consolidating power. Potential autocrats have not been able to consistently rely on coercive forces to repress challengers, and their partisan support base has been fickle. Second, media and parties from the authoritarian periods have remained on the scene, ensuring that the opposition can spring back from temporary defeats. Third, although Russia has exerted pressure on these countries to enter its authoritarian sphere, a modicum of Western influence has made it costly for rulers to engage in the most egregious abuses of power.