Paradigm Shift
60 Years of Political Science in East European Studies
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
During the East-West conflict, representatives of the theory of totalitarianism and supporters of development and modernisation theories were irreconcilable. For various reasons, both overrated the ability of communist-bureaucratic rule to change. As it crumbled, transition theories were supposed to explain the consolidation of democratic systems. However, these did not consolidate. Today, political science research on Eastern Europe is seeking suitable concepts in order to determine the typical characteristics of such different forms of government and types of regime as the Czech Republic and Turkmenistan.
(Osteuropa 2-3/2013, pp. 119–136)