The Third Wave of Democracy: The Latin American and the Eastern European Experience.

The third long wave of democracy which started in the 1970s has increased the number of countries which share the democratic ideal. New institutions were established, old ones were changed or abandoned, and the role of these institutions in society was altered. The third wave started in Southern Europe, then spread to Latin America and finally reached Europe again with the democratization of the former communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Although grouped in the Third Wave, the transitions of these countries have not only similarities but also notable differences. This paper will examine whether the earlier transitions in Latin America provided some lessons for the Central and Eastern European countries in their democratization. However, the major question asked is which Latin American experiences could be useful to the newly democratized countries in Europe and how more specifically can they be applied in the European context. The paper will mostly compare the two regions in terms of executive-legislative relations, political parties, and the relations between the state and its institutions, and society. Finally, a discussion about the future development of the new democratic states in Europe will examine the factors that make the Central and Eastern European countries’ road to democracy different from the Latin American. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]