After the split: Slovakia, Czech Republic and the path to democratic consolidation

Abstract

"Guided by the observation that consolidated, liberal democracies have not been the outcome of all transitions from communism, this paper sets out to analyze the reasons behind the divergence shown in the paths of two very similar countries, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, in their first years of postcommunist development. The analysis examines the influence of two structural factors - level of economic development and level of ethnic homogeneity - on democratic consolidation. By tracing their role in shaping postcommunist political strategies and in institutionalizing democratic principles and behaviors, the analysis offers strong support for the hypothesis that such oft-underemphasized structural factors are significant to a country's prospects for consolidated democracy." (author's abstract)