By studying the influence of the two main external actors in post-Soviet space, the EU and Russia, this study contributes to the increasing body of literature that studies the causes of democratic recession and authoritarian backlash in post-Soviet states and the role of regional actors in these processes. Empirically, the study finds the EU to be both a democracy-promoting and democracy-hindering actor in post-Soviet states. Russia's impact, on the other hand, is far more negative than the literature on democratization and autocracy promotion typically suggests. It negatively affects both the quality of democracy of post-Soviet states and limits the EU's options for promoting democracy in its neighborhood.

Study in the field of political science

Autorentext

Bidzina Lebanidze is Research Associate at the University of Bremen and Associate Professor (of International Relations) at the Ilia State University.

Inhalt

Regime outcomes and degree of democracy in the post-Soviet states.- Domestic prerequisites for democratization.- Russia, EU and their vulnerable neighbors: Measuring the external leverage in the post-Soviet states.- Between neighborhood and colony: European and Russian strategies in the post-Soviet space.- Direct external influence: Elections in the post-Soviet states.