scholarly journals Determinants of political stability: explanation of the process of institutional change in post-communist countries (1990-2020)

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-43
Author(s):  
Vitalii Lebediuk

This article examines the institutional changes in 22 post-communist countries during the 1990-2020 period. The objective of the study was to find out why some countries achieved democracy while others failed to establish or strengthen democratic institutions, and what factors influenced the political stability of post-communist countries. During the study, available statistical information on the functioning of the main institutions was collected and processed. The analysis shows that the most significant institutional changes were observed among the non-democratic countries and those that fell into the category of hybrid political regimes. The correction of the initially chosen form of government is evidence in support of the theory of endogenous change, indicating “path-dependency”. The influence of endogenous factors determines the quality of democratic change and the level of political stability in post-communist countries. Democratic changes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe were associated with a commitment to rapid reform in the early stages, and Euro-Atlantic integration only supported the democratic quality of the institutions. The institutional framework of the countries, that embarked on the path of European integration, was relatively stable during the period under the study, and did not deal with changes in the system of power distribution. While the countries of the former Soviet Union most often resorted to changes in the primary law of the country, and these changes were related to the redistribution of powers between the branches of power and the extension of the time in the office of the President. In addition to the overall level of democratization of the country, the level of emancipatory values and the weight of presidential power have the greatest impact on political stability.

2021 ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
E.A. Naghieva ◽  

The technological development led to the substitution of vegetable and animal oils for the mineral ones. With further development of engine manufacturing, the requirements to the quality of lubricants increased. It was revealed that the mineral oils, as though they are cleaned, do not satisfy the requirements. In this regard, the new method for the improvement of the quality of lubricants is the addition of organic compounds with various functional groups providing the lubricants with set properties into so-called “additives”. In 1945 on the offer of academician U. Mammadaliev a laboratory of the lubricants and additives had been established and leaded by academician A.M. Kuliev under AzNIINP named after V.V. Kuybyshev. Fundamental studies of this staff were considered a basis for the development of industrial production of efficient additives in the former Soviet Union. First developments of the staff related to the depressor and detergent, afterwards to the multi-functional additives. Based on carried out surveys by the laboratory staff the first local additives – depressors AzNII, AzNII-4, AzNII-5, AzNII-TSIATIM etc. have been developed in Azerbaijan. The success of the staff in the studies and developments, as well as the presence of qualified specialists in the chemistry of additives promoted the establishment of the single in our country profiled Institute for the chemistry of additives of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR under the leadership of A.M. Kuliev in 1965. The diapason of fundamental works, enabling to develop the scientific basis of synthesis of efficient additives of optimum structure has been dramatically increased. Numerous efficient additives of various purpose have been obtained. The lubricants are being used in all spheres of the economy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shavkat Rakhmatullaev ◽  
Frédéric Huneau ◽  
Jusipbek Kazbekov ◽  
Hélène Celle-Jeanton ◽  
Mikael Motelica-Heino ◽  
...  

AbstractAs a result of the massive irrigation development during the Soviet Union era and intensive chemization of agriculture, the surface runoff quality has been degraded in this arid and endorheic region. Moreover hydraulically related groundwater has also been affected. Excessive irrigation has lead to land salinization, which now threatens the soil quality of significant areas where crop yields would be at risk in the future. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, institutional changes have been undertaken for the management of natural resources and water infrastructure. At present, underdeveloped and inadequate systems have been practiced with respect to groundwater use and management. This paper analyzes the present extent of groundwater resources with consideration to their reserves, quality evolution, and to technical, institutional and transboundary management practices in Uzbekistan.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Nataliia Honcharenko-Zakrevska ◽  
Mykhailo Goncharenko ◽  
Liudmyla Osipova

Further changes and improvement of the conditions necessary for the development of economy, market and institutional environment should be based on gradual institutional transformations of the most important spheres of social relations, taking into account all the peculiarities of functioning of enterprises of different types of economic activity and forms of ownership. The regulation of the market environment should be based, first of all, on an institutional approach by creating an adequate support mechanism and stimulating its development. The purpose of the article is to formulate the methodological bases for the study of institutional aspects of market environment disortion on the basis of predictive analysis and institutional engineering. The authors summarize that the institutional environment has certain rules of behavior for the subjects of the socio-economic system, which reduce uncertainty in the functioning of this system, and also contribute to the growth of welfare of members of society. It has been determined that, both formal and informal, they must promote the effective functioning of economic processes and represent social value and productive force in socio-economic development in themselves, forming such a resource of society as social capital, which supplements and regulates the use of physical and human capital. The availability of social capital reduces the amount of transaction costs and, accordingly, the number of services for monitoring and controlling the behavior of participants in the economic process. It is proposed to conduct research based on predictive models of forecasting manner, that is used to predict the income and expenses of the subject and its future status. The overall macro-factor analysis of market distortions has made it possible to determine that the most comprehensive analysis of the elements of the institutional environment is carried out by the World Bank, with the help of several groups of indicators: the first group includes political liberties and political stability, the second one isthe efficiency of governance and the quality of regulatory activity, and the third one is the rule-of-law assessment of the quality of compliance of the human rights, property rights. It is also possible to determine the dynamics of the efficiency of government in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Predictive analysis of the market environment allowed us to consider institutional changes, both through the prism of quantitative analysis of economic agents and qualitative factors of influence (the perfection of rules, time interval for their implementation, etc.). Also, it allowed to analyze the disparities in the market environment from the point of view of trajectories formed by gradual changes and trajectories that have certain "breaks", jumps or "institutional shocks". The authors present the characteristics of the results of a predictive analysis of institutional development. It is generalized that the final assessment of institutional changes and their effectiveness can only be determined after their implementation. Pre-forecasting gives a plausible estimate of the effectiveness and a predictable estimate of chreodity of the development option. It also proposes the introduction of institutional engineering as an activity aimed at developing models of economic institutions that are consciously and purposefully introduced into the market environment and mass economic behavior. The main problem lies in the development of such rules and principles of activity, the adherence of which would contribute to the effective solution of those problems for which they were created.


Author(s):  
Olga Nicoara ◽  
Peter Boettke

Following the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe (1989) and the Soviet Union (1991), the field of comparative political economy has undergone multiple stocktakings and revisions. In the former communist countries, Marxist economics was abandoned in favor of neoclassical economics, which dominated the profession in the West. But was neoclassical theory equipped to suggest adequate institutional arrangements in support of the transformations to capitalism in the former centrally planned economies of central and eastern Europe (C and EE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU)? What have economists working in the field of comparative political economy learned from the collapse of communism and the experience of transition so far? This chapter surveys the thoughts of leading transition scholars and assesses the new lessons learned in comparative transitional political economy.


Author(s):  
V. Samunnatha ◽  
Choong Y. Lee ◽  
Gulzat Machinova

The purpose of this paper is to identify what youth development programs are needed for the socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan, and how such programs can be built effectively for the sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan. Since their independence from the Former Soviet Union, virtually all Central Asian countries have faced complex socio-economic challenges in their transition from a command to a market economy. As a consequence, social instability has increased to the level of serious threat to political stability and national security. Particularly, Kyrgyzstan has had people’s revolutions trice since its independence. In those three Kyrgyz revolutions, even though all patriotic Kyrgyz people were parts of relatively peaceful demonstrations against dictators and their corrupt governments, young people who were teens and early twenties made the difference at the critical moments during those two revolutions. Now, Kyrgyz people seem overconfident in believing that they could change anything they don’t like. Especially after the second revolution, many people, especially young people, in Kyrgyzstan have a wrong and dangerous perception that they could have another revolution any time when they feel their demands are not satisfied. However, unfortunately, such demands could not be satisfied completely in a shorter time of their tolerance. If young people’s beliefs about their future will not be realized soon, there will be social chaos virtually everyday continuously, which hurts its socio-economic development in Kyrgyzstan. As the Kyrgyz young people feel have ore socio- political power than ever in Kyrgyzstan, angry and frustrated young peoplein Kyrgyzstan will make lots of noise politically as well as socially. However, history tells us that radical movements, such as revolutions, are not the ultimate solutions in most times for building a healthy society or a prosperous nation. Revolution could sweep the past, but they could not promise a bright future automatically. Building a promising future needs well-developed plans, including youth development programs, by the knowledgeable and competent leadership with visions, and those plans should be carried out one by one in right ways. However, little attention has been paid to such programs in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, Kyrgyzstan should establish well-focused youth development programs and implement them according to its national priority in strategic development of its country. The objective of this paper is to identify what youth programs/activities are needed for socio-economic development in Kyrgyzstan and how to develop such programs/activities effectively in the current situation, and to make some suggestions for successful operations of those programs to encourage all the Kyrgyz youth to play constructive roles in building their country as a socio-economically well-respected country in the world. Цель этой статьи - определить, какие программы развития молодежи необходимы для социально-экономического развития Кыргызстана и как такие программы могут быть эффективно построены для устойчивого развития Кыргызстана. С момента обретения независимости от бывшего Советского Союза практически все страны Центральной Азии столкнулись со сложными социально-экономическими проблемами при переходе от командной экономики к рыночной. Как следствие, социальная нестабильность выросла до уровня серьезной угрозы политической стабильности и национальной безопасности. В частности, с момента обретения независимости Кыргызстан трижды переживал народные революции. В этих трех киргизских революциях, несмотря на то, что все патриотически настроенные киргизы участвовали в относительно мирных демонстрациях против диктаторов и их коррумпированных правительств, молодые люди в возрасте от 20 до 30 лет сыграли решающую роль в критические моменты этих двух революций. Теперь кыргызстанцы кажутся слишком самоуверенными, полагая, что они могут изменить все, что им не нравится. Особенно после второй революции у многих людей, особенно молодых, в Кыргызстане сложилось неправильное и опасное представление о том, что у них может произойти еще одна революция в любое время, когда они почувствуют, что их требования не удовлетворены. Однако, к сожалению, такие требования не могли быть удовлетворены полностью за более короткий срок их терпимости. Если убеждения молодых людей в своем будущем не будут реализованы в ближайшее время, практически каждый день будет происходить социальный хаос, который негативно скажется на социально-экономическом раз- витии Кыргызстана. По мере того как кыргызская молодежь захватывает больше социально-политической власти, чем когда-либо в Кыргызстане, разгневанные и разочарованные молодые люди в Кыргызстане будут создавать много шума как в политическом, так и в социальном плане. Однако история говорит нам, что радикальные движения, такие как революции, в большинстве случаев не являются окончательным решением для построения здорового общества или процветающей нации. Революции могут смести прошлое, но они не могут автоматически обещать светлое будущее. Для построения многообещающего будущего необходимы хорошо разработанные планы, в том числе программы развития молодежи, под руководством знающего и компетентного руководства с видением, и эти


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Nesterko ◽  
Michael Friedrich ◽  
Nadja Seidel ◽  
Heide Glaesmer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test a hypothesized structure of interrelations between pre-migration dispositional factors (cultural identity and optimism/pessimism) and immigration-related experiences (level of integration and perceived discrimination) in association with mental and physical components of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of Jewish people from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) who immigrated to Germany. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire in Russian, including items about the immigration background, level of integration, perceived discrimination as well as cultural identity, dispositional optimism/pessimism (Life Orientation Test-R) and HRQoL (SF-12) was handed out to Jewish immigrants from the FSU living in Germany. The data of 153 participants were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings Whereas no significant associations between Jewish identity and HRQoL could be found, both a positive association between optimism and level of integration with a link to physical and mental health, and an inverse relation between optimism and perceived discrimination with a link to mental health, were observed. Opposite associations were found for pessimism. Originality/value The results replicate prior research findings on Jews from the FSU living in Israel and the USA and suggest more detailed assessment methods for further investigations on integration processes and cultural identity in the selected group of immigrants. Additionally, HRQoL is significantly lower in the Jewish sample than in the general population. These findings underline the need for a better integration policy, especially for Jewish people from the FSU.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Bader

AbstractElectoral assistance by the OSCE in the undemocratic states of the post-Soviet area is faced with a number of serious challenges: there has been no improvement in the quality of elections over the past decade; recommendations by the OSCE to improve electoral legislation are routinely disregarded in most countries; and, within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the undemocratic countries have stepped up a range of alternative electoral assistance activities that replicate and in large part contradict comparable OSCE efforts. This article discusses these three challenges and considers possible changes to the practice of OSCE electoral assistance that may contribute to its continued relevance and effectiveness.


1999 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Wimberley ◽  
David J. O'Brien ◽  
Valeri V. Patsiorkovski ◽  
Larry D. Dershem ◽  
Alessandro Bonanno ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 71-90
Author(s):  
Trina L. Larsen ◽  
Robert T. Green

Economic liberalization is underway in many countries that had previously been relatively closed to outside commercial relations. This includes former East Bloc nations and LDCs that had long attempted to protect their inefficient industries from foreign competition. Perhaps the most spectacular example of this trend is the former Soviet Union. This article reports a study of the changes that occurred in the former Soviet Union's trade relations with non-communist countries in the critical period during which trade ‘openness’ was being established. The results provide insights that may be useful to exporters in their assessment of market opportunities in countries undergoing the difficult transition to a market economy.


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