Aims There are four very broad aims to the thesis. To assess whether new dimensions of democracy are emerging The first aim is to ascertain whether and in what senses new dimensions of democracy are emerging in Estonia. To explore whether there is a democratic shortfall The second aims is to consider the expectations of democracy both of the non-elite and elite groups, and to compare these with democratic reality. To assess the development of a 'new' democracy The third aim is to assess the development of a 'new' democracy. Estonia is a restored democracy. To challenge the ideas concerning previous democratic experience The fourth aim is to ascertain whether the 'restorationist principle' (Smith 1995) has been an assistance or a hindrance to democratic stability. Methods I attempt to create a comprehensive model from which to carry out a democratic 'audit' of Estonia. Established democratic experiences and Estonian democratic experience will be used in determining benchmarks Le. prerequisites and indicators for an analytical model from which to consider the re-established democracy in Estonia. This analytical model will help to identify certain characteristics of representative or pluralist democracy and its support systems, for instance historical background and political culture. Indicators are used, such as the level of trust or distrust of politicians. Indicators are open to many different interpretations, for example, why people do not vote in elections. These benchmarks and indicators facilitate a systematic comparative analysis and will help to establish more precisely the character and potential stability of the democracy that is emerging in Estonia. Questionnaires and interviews are used Literature review A variety of literature has been used for this research, the main ones are concerned with theory, in the form of up-to-date hooks and articles, post communist study, in the form of hooks, journals and websites and Estonia, in the form of journals, surveys and in particular, websites. Contribution to knowledge This study identifies gaps in knowledge and thus attempts to fill them. Estonia is a largely neglected country in the field of post communist study and this thesis aims to bridge some of these gaps. Generally, this thesis will contribute to the understanding of democracy, in particular stable democracy. It will challenge current understanding of stable democracy. It will examine whether a restored democracy is any more stable than a 'new' democracy - in particular whether a prior recent experience of democracy is an assistance or hindrance to democratic stability. It will contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the experience of post- Soviet Russians living outside Russia, including the perspectives of the Soviet Russian immigrant community in Estonia. By employing Ute concept of political stability it will be possible to assess whether Estonia was more stable as an authoritarian regime. From a more general perspective it may be possible to hypothesise about post communist democratic development. It could point to further lines of enquiry.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:341031 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Woods-Gallagher, S. A. |
| Publisher | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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