The EU and Party Politics in Central and Eastern Europe: Questions and Issues

Abstract

The broad principle of Europeanization was a guiding light for the transformation that has taken place in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) since communist rule began to crumble in 1989. This was no less true of political parties and party systems than of other major components in the transition to democracy. The dominant Soviet hegemony that prevailed until 1989 was swiftly replaced by a strengthening Western influence composed, in its early phase, of a loosely defined idea of ‘transition to democracy’ and considerably more concrete processes of capitalist construction (’free market’ development) as well as steadily growing military cooperation. Parties were formed and developed on Western models, and transnational links both with the different party internationals and equivalent associations based on the European Parliament (EP) have been instrumental in shaping political identities and underpinning the development of the institutions that seek to represent them.