Abstract

What constitutes the crisis of democracy? Is the crisis of democracy imagined or real? When did democratization in Eastern and Central Europe end and the crisis of democracy begin? Is the crisis of democracy in Eastern Europe any different from the crisis of democracy in Western Europe? How can we distinguish between the causes and the consequences of the crisis of democracy? Is democracy in a perpetual crisis?

Panel I: Dimensions of the Crisis of Democracy 12.45-2.15pm

Democracy in Eastern Europe: Myth, Ideology and Reality Harald Wydra, Fellow of St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge

Economy, Corruption or Promiscuous Voters? Explaining the Success of Anti-Establishment Reform Parties in Eastern Europe Sean Hanley, Senior Lecturer in East European Politics, University College London (co-author Allan Sikk, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, University College London)

Legitimacy of Russia’s Regime and Trust in Persons vs Institutions Nikolay Petrov, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

2.15-2.45pm Refreshments

Panel II: Comparisons of the Crises of Democracy 2.45-4.15pm The Silent Waters are the Deepest? What Does the Lack of Popular Protest Mean for Public Support for Putin Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics, University of Kent

The Price of Transition: Reassessing the Bulgarian Experience of Post-Communism Ognyan Minchev, Professor оf Politics, Sofia University, Bulgaria

How Lack of Popular Support Influences Legitimacy to Lead: the Case of the Romanian President Emanuel Coman, Fellow in Politics, Nuffield College, Oxford University

4.15-4.45pm Refreshments

Panel III : Lessons of the Crisis of Democracy 4.45-6pm Democracy: Duality, Crisis or Reincarnation? Gergana Dimova, Fellow in Politics, St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge

Is Democracy in Crisis? Concluding Remarks John Dunn, Professor of Politics, University of Cambridge