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Comparative Analysis of Citizens’ View on Democracy in the CEE Members of the EU

Thu, August 31, 10:00 to 11:30am PDT (10:00 to 11:30am PDT), LACC, 511A

Abstract

This paper provides a comparative analysis of democracy perceptions in eleven Central and Eastern European (CEE) Member States of the European Union in the crisis years of 2020-22. Democracy's pre-existing problems in Central and Eastern Europe, have been affected by recent crises, such as the COVID19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The economic recession, the energy crisis and rising inflation could also threaten faith in democracy, especially in a region that is geographically close to the war zone. The underlying assumption of this paper is that individuals could have a significant role in preventing democratic backsliding. Citizens' perceptions of the functioning of the democracy affect how they vote at elections, what institutions they trust, and what policy decisions they accept or reject. Consequently, analyzing the views of individuals on democracy is of paramount importance for the survival of democracy as a whole and the protection of democratic values in the Union. Since, the political systems of the Member States are embedded in the unique, supranational political system of the EU, democracy perceptions can measure both at country and EU levels. Are CEE nationals satisfied with the way democracy functions at country and EU-levels? Do they believe that they voice counts in their country and in the EU? What are the main components of democracy according to the people? What do they think about free elections, freedom of speech, equal rights? What institutions do they trust as national and EU levels? And at last, but not least how do they value democracy in crisis times? My paper aims to provide answers to these questions by building on recent results of Eurobarometer surveys on these issues as well as results of other surveys on perceptions of democracy.

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