Democracy Promotion and Authoritarian Diffusion: The Foreign Origins of Post-Soviet Election Laws

Max Bader

Europe-Asia Studies, 2014, vol. 66, issue 8, 1350-1370

Abstract: Flawed electoral legislation in post-Soviet states has facilitated the conduct of undemocratic elections. This article argues that the low quality of electoral legislation in the region results in large part from a process of ‘authoritarian diffusion’, whereby the election laws of the post-Soviet states extensively borrow and adapt from Soviet laws and post-communist Russian laws. The authorities of most post-Soviet states have routinely disregarded recommendations by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Venice Commission to improve electoral legislation. Besides presenting evidence of ‘authoritarian diffusion’ across the post-Soviet area, the article highlights the enduring impact of the Soviet legacy and of Russia's relatively hegemonic position in the region.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2014.939521

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