Keywords
deconsolidation of democracy
democratic backsliding
hybrid regime
dedemocratization
How to Cite
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to review the leading theoretical categories used in analyzing dedemocratization in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and to assess their applicability to the changes observed during the third wave of autocratization (2008–2019). In this article Author reviewed following theoretical categories and concepts related to the process of withdraw liberal democracy: democratic consolidation and deconsolidation, erosion of democracy, regression of democracy, decay of democracy, democratic backsliding, and autocratization. Next, analyzing terms related to the outcomes of these processes consist of illiberal democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime and patronal autocracy. The paper offers a review of the main concepts and theoretical categories employed in studies on contemporary political systems. It also provides reflections on the use of these categories within the framework of transitology, highlighting their foundations and innovations. Additionally, the article shed lights on observed biases in studies about political systems, and a tendency to producing terms called “political systems with adjectives”.
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