Conclusion

Abstract

The purpose of this book is twofold. First, it evaluates the process of political institutionalization in the five post-Soviet states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine. Striking variations in the extent to which party systems have been institutionalized in these nations are discussed in chapter 6. The second part of the book aims to explain different levels of political institutionalization achieved by the former republics of the Soviet Union. The study identifies four factors that shaped the status of the party system in the Baltic states, Russia, and Ukraine: (1) the role of the old Communist elites during the initial stage of the formation of the party system; (2) the executive-legislative arrangements; (3) the electoral system; and (4) the place of parties of power in the national political system. It goes without saying that along with these four variables, many other factors have affected the development of political parties in the five countries: pre-Soviet historical heritage, social cleavages, political culture, etc.KeywordsPolitical PartyPolitical OrganizationParty SystemBaltic StateTransitional CountryThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.