Cover Osteuropa 7/2006

In Osteuropa 7/2006

Limited Pluralism
Post-Communist Authoritarian Systems

Margarete Wiest


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

In transformation research, the concept of authoritarianism is neglected. Setting authoritarian systems apart from those that are democratic and totalitarian was long considered desideratum. Limited pluralism can be understood as a central characteristic of authoritarian systems. For some time, interest in this subject has been growing. This is seen in the various forms of authoritarianisms with adjectives created to capture the peculiarities of post-communist authoritarian systems. The features of authoritarianisms in the ex-communist realm include insufficient rule of law, inefficient state structures, and incestuous relations between politics and the business world.

(Osteuropa 7/2006, pp. 65–78)