New Releases by Richard Rose

The collapse of Communism has created the opportunity for democracy to spread from Prague to the Baltic and Black Seas. But the alternatives—dictatorship or totalitarian rule—are more in keeping with the traditions of Central Europe. And for many post-Communist societies, democracy has come to be associated with inflation, unemployment, crime, and corruption. Is it still true, then, as Winston Churchill suggested a half-century ago, that people will accept democracy with all its faults—because it is better than anything else? To find out, political scientists Richard Rose, William Mishler, and Christian Haerpfer examine evidence from post-Communist societies in eastern Europe. Drawing on data from public opinion and exit polls, election results, and interviews, the authors present testable hypotheses regarding regime change, consolidation, and prospects for stabilization. The authors point out that the abrupt transition to democracy in post-Communist countries is normal; gradual evolution in the Anglo-American way is the exception to the rule. While most recent books on democratization focus on Latin America and, to some extent, Asia, the present volume offers a unique look at the process currently under way in nine eastern European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, and Ukraine. Despite the many problems these post-Communist societies are experiencing in making the transition to a more open and democratic polity, the authors conclude that a little democracy is better than no democracy at all.

In this text, experts in Russian party politics provide detailed coverage and discussion of Russian politics and voting behaviour. It includes two chapters on the December 1995 parliamentary elections

This book examines the fundamentals of politics in the new Europe, from Berlin to Budapest and Spain to Stockholm. Classical political science concepts are used to compare the established and new democracies.

"Richard Rose has produced an exceptional book, not just about presidents but also about how they connect—or fail to connect—with Washington and the world. His unique comparative approach—blending process with politics and policy—results in an insightful, engaging treatment of the presidency and its place in the broader American system." — I.M. Destler, University of Maryland