Material Information |
| Title: |
The Role of Corruption in Preventing Consolidation of Democracy in Bulgaria |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Gueorguieva, Polina |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2004 |
| Publication Date: |
2004 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Corruption
Dual Transition
Transition to Democracy |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
The countries in transition from authoritarian rule face a myriad of difficulties on their way to democracy. One of the most understudied factors is corruption. Corruption is especially important in the cases of dual transitions, when the countries have to change simultaneously their political and economic organization. Although economic hardship might not lead to an authoritarian comeback, as predicted by Adam Przeworski, it might prevent the deepening of democracy. To study the role corruption plays in preventing consolidation of democracy, this paper embraces the World Bank definition of corruption as the abuse of public office for private gains and uses as a case study Bulgaria. Bulgaria embarked on the road to democracy in 1989 together with many other Central and East European countries, but soon lost reform momentum and experienced one of the most severe recessions among the post-communist transitions in 1996-1997. In explaining Bulgaria's transition, the paper presents a twofold argument. First, corruption is understood as a cultural practice and its development is traced from the late years of the Ottoman Empire through the end of the communist period. Second, once established as the common way things get done, corruption perverted economic transformation and resulted in a stop-and-go mode of reform. The impoverishment of the majority of the population in contrast to the enrichment of a well-connected minority of politicians, bureaucrats, and mafiosi caused deep popular disillusionment with Bulgaria's democratic institutions. The proliferation of corruption scandals involving prominent politicians in the later years of the transition delegitimized the political elite in the eyes of the people and justified old practices of petty corruption in individuals' dealings with the state institutions. Corruption presented an obstacle to both political and economic reform. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Polina Gueorguieva |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2004 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Hicks, Barbara |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2004 G9 |
| System ID: |
NCFE003379:00001 |
|
Material Information |
| Title: |
The Role of Corruption in Preventing Consolidation of Democracy in Bulgaria |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Gueorguieva, Polina |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2004 |
| Publication Date: |
2004 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Corruption
Dual Transition
Transition to Democracy |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
The countries in transition from authoritarian rule face a myriad of difficulties on their way to democracy. One of the most understudied factors is corruption. Corruption is especially important in the cases of dual transitions, when the countries have to change simultaneously their political and economic organization. Although economic hardship might not lead to an authoritarian comeback, as predicted by Adam Przeworski, it might prevent the deepening of democracy. To study the role corruption plays in preventing consolidation of democracy, this paper embraces the World Bank definition of corruption as the abuse of public office for private gains and uses as a case study Bulgaria. Bulgaria embarked on the road to democracy in 1989 together with many other Central and East European countries, but soon lost reform momentum and experienced one of the most severe recessions among the post-communist transitions in 1996-1997. In explaining Bulgaria's transition, the paper presents a twofold argument. First, corruption is understood as a cultural practice and its development is traced from the late years of the Ottoman Empire through the end of the communist period. Second, once established as the common way things get done, corruption perverted economic transformation and resulted in a stop-and-go mode of reform. The impoverishment of the majority of the population in contrast to the enrichment of a well-connected minority of politicians, bureaucrats, and mafiosi caused deep popular disillusionment with Bulgaria's democratic institutions. The proliferation of corruption scandals involving prominent politicians in the later years of the transition delegitimized the political elite in the eyes of the people and justified old practices of petty corruption in individuals' dealings with the state institutions. Corruption presented an obstacle to both political and economic reform. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Polina Gueorguieva |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2004 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Hicks, Barbara |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2004 G9 |
| System ID: |
NCFE003379:00001 |
|