Transforming the Transformation?

Transforming the transformation? The East European Radical Right in the Political Process examines the significance of radical right parties, along with other organizations, in terms of their involvement in the political process of new democracies. This groundbreaking study highlights firstly the radical right's interaction with other political actors, such as parties, governments and interest groups, in their respective countries. Secondly, the contributors analyze the effects of such interaction with regard to agenda setting and policies in "loaded" policy fields, namely minorities and immigration, law and order, religion, territorial issues and democratization. Through an examination of the role of radical right actors in political processes and an assessment of the resulting measurable outcomes, this book shows how policies, election results and regime changes indicate shifts away from the liberal-democratic order institutionalized in the course of post-Communist transformation. Offering a unique cross-national comparison of particular facets and themes, as well as in-depth analysis of country cases, this book will be of interest to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as scholars, of European politics and far right studies.

Michael Minkenberg is Professor of Comparative Political Science at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.

Introduction PART I CONTEXTS AND CONCEPTS 1. Transforming Transformation Theory 2. Profiles, Patterns, Process: Studying the East European Radical Right in Its Political Environment PART II COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES 3. The Democratization of Hostility: Minorities and Radical Right Actors after the Fall of Communism 4. The Populist Radical Right Parties in the Political Process: Assessing Party Impact in Central and Eastern Europe 5. Lighting the Fuse: the Impact of Radical Right Parties on Party Competition in Central and Eastern Europe 6. The Impact of Radical Right Parties in the Baltic States PART III COUNTRY CASES: EAST CENTRAL EUROPE 7. The Radical Right in Poland-from the Mainstream to the Margins. A Case of Interconnectivity 8. Transforming Hungary-Together? An Analysis of the FIDESZ-Jobbik Relationship 9. The Impact of the Czech Radical Right on Transformation and (De)Consolidation of Democracy after 1989 10. Actors, Agenda, and Appeals of the Radical Nationalist Right in Slovakia PART IV COUNTRY CASES: BALKAN AND BEYOND 11. The Emergence of a New Radical Right Power: the Romanian Orthodox Church12. 'Righting It Up': an Interplay-based Model for Analyzing Extreme Right Dynamics in Romania13. The Bulgarian Radical Right: Marching Up from the Margins14. Parties and Subcultures in the Process of Mobilization: the Internal Dynamics of the Radical Right in Ukraine15. Conclusions: Actors, Interaction, and Impact in Comparison