Review article

Political Culture of "New Democracies"

Branka Galić ; Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb

Abstract

The main threat to the democratization of new states in Easter Europe seem to be old problems of the past regime, which have only been transferred into the newly created frameworks of the changed modes of ownership, political representation, human and national rights, ecology, health, etc. Among the most important problems are: new populism, violation of human rights, state paternalism, corruption and crime, while the problems of health and ecology are being pushed to the social margin or totally ignored. Post-communism encompasses the well known experience of the former “communist” countries, which turned to one and only goal - the West - which it sees as a role model and towards which all its attentions, hopes and expectations are turned. This goal understands finding a path which is in no way easy -from totalitarianism towards democracy and market economy. Although it is often though, uncritically, that these obstacles are easily overcome by any country wishing to see itself in the modem condition, the reality with which the new states face often refutes the first euphoria and necessitates more cautious opinions. Post-communist countries, especially some of them, are not party to the experience of civil democracy, institutions which enable it, or a democratic civil political culture. Since the communist regimes mostly contributed to the intensive development of traditional forms of ethnic consciousness and the whole host of traditional opinions and relations, and especially authoritarian relation in the family, the school, the work place, they have significantly contributed to the turning away from the development of civil, democratic political culture and to the re-establishment of “parochial” and “subject-like PODANIČKIH” forms of political culture with traditionalist and neo-traditionalist structure in the “new democracies”, including Croatia.

Keywords

democracy; communism; political culture; post-communism; Eastern Europe

Hrčak ID:

154305

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154305

Publication date:

31.12.2000.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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