The course is about the transitions – successful and not -- from
communist towards democratic politics in East Europe and the post-
Soviet states.  The emphasis is on comparative and conceptual issues
associated with the post-communist transformation.  To that effect,
we look first at the special problems associated with the legacy of
communism and the burden of the "triple" transition in the economy,
society, and polity.
The main focus of the seminar will be on the "foundation" of a
democratic order, or the incapacity to create such a foundation,
through the formation and consolidation of institutions facilitating
democratic, pluralist politics.  We examine here the emergence of a
new constitutional mandate, the creation of governing structures
(presidential v. parliamentarian), the formation of party systems
(electoral rules, political cleavages, party alignments), the
construction of civil society (associations, interest groups), the
institutional infrastructure of a market economy (exchange, private
property), and the public response to political and economic
transformation.  The final phase of the seminar will be an assessment
of the success/failure of the democratic enterprise in former
communist states.
Due to the contemporary nature of the topic, readings will come
primarily from articles in academic journals, although we will also
consult recent books and works in progress. In addition to class
participation, the primary requirement for the seminar is an original
research paper on the question of the democratic transition or
authoritarian transformation in the post-communist world.