Hide
Show all
Email this article 
The Evolution of Democratic Models in Central and Eastern European States after Accession to the European Union: A Comparative Analysis of Poland, Hungary, and Estonia
Abstract
After the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe entered a new phase of political transformation, going beyond the post-communist liberalization of the 1990s. The author analyzes the impact of European integration on the political systems of the region within the framework of the Europeanization discourse, drawing on the theories of Radaelli, Börzel and Risse, as well as Schimmelfennig. Based on case studies of Poland, Hungary, and Estonia, the study compares democratization processes, highlighting the gap between formal compliance and the actual implementation of EU norms. The findings emphasize the complexity and selectivity of norm adaptation in the region, as well as the challenges to the sustainability of the transformational model in the face of liberal democracy’s erosion.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDF (Język Polski)References
BBC News. (2023). EU top court says that Poland’s justice reform infringes EU law. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65809525 [dostęp: 29.01.2024].
Börzel, T. A., & Risse, T. (2003). Conceptualizing the Domestic Impact of Europe. In K. Featherstone & C. M. Radaelli (Eds.), The Politics of Europeanization (pp. 57–80). Oxford University Press.
Capoccia, Giovanni. (2016). Critical Junctures. W: The Oxford Handbook of HIstorical Institutionalism, Eds. O Fioretos, T. Falleti, A, Sheingate (pp.95-108), Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016
Chui, B. (2017). Estonia’s e‑Governance: A Lesson on Efficiency for the EU. Epicenter Network.https://www.epicenternetwork.eu/blog/estonias‑egovernance‑a‑lesson‑on‑efficiency‑for‑the‑eu‑6389/ [dostęp: 29.01.2024].
Cowles, M. G., Caporaso, J. A., & Risse, T. (2000). When Europe Hits Home: Europeanization and Domestic Change (EIoP Working Paper No. 2000–015) (pp.5-6). European Integration Online Papers.
Mikkelsen, D. (2023). From digital defence to climate offence: Estonia's COP28 twin transition triumph. Defence & Security Middle East. https://www.defsecme.com/news/from-digital-defence-to-climate-offence-estonias-cop28-twin-transition-triumph [dostęp: 28.01.2024].
Directorate‑General for Justice and Consumers. (2022). 2022 Rule of Law Report – Communication and Country Chapters. European Commission.
https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2022-rule-law-report-communication-and-country-chapters_en [dostęp: 29.01.2024].
Euractiv. (2010). EU speechless over Hungary’s contentious media law. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-speechless-over-hungary-s-contentious-media-law/ [dostęp: 29.01.2024].
Euractiv. (2017). Poland snubs EU over controversial court reforms. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/poland-snubs-eu-over-controversial-court-reforms/ [dostęp: 28.01.2024].
Euractiv. (2022). Poland, Hungary turning more authoritarian, rights group says. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/poland-hungary-turning-more-authoritarian-rights-group-says/ [dostęp: 28.01.2024].
Eurostat WWWa. (n.d.). General government expenditure by function – GOV_10A_EXP. Eurostat Data Browser. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/GOV_10A_EXP__custom_1743002/default/table?lang=en [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
Eurostat WWWb. (n.d.). GDP per capita in PPS. Eurostat Data Browser. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tec00114/default/table [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
European Commission. (2022). Commission Staff Working Document – Impact Assessment Report SWD (2022) 34 final: Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act). Publications Office of the European Union. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022SC0034 [dostęp: 01.12.2023].
European Commission. (2023). Kommissionsforslag KOM(2023)0570 [Proposal]. EU Council (Denmark). https://www.eu.dk/samling/20231/kommissionsforslag/KOM(2023)0570/forslag/1981549/2756081/index.htm [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
European Commission. (2024). Estonia 2024 Digital Decade Country Report. Digital Strategy – Shaping Europe’s Digital Future. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/factpages/estonia-2024-digital-decade-country-report [dostęp: 22.07.2024].
European Parliament. (2018). Report A8‑0250/2018 on a proposal calling on the Council to determine, pursuant to Article 7(1) TEU, the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded (Rapporteur: Judith Sargentini). European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0250_EN.pdf [dostęp: 12.05.2024].
Freedom House. (2023a). Poland. Nations in Transit 2023. Freedom House. https://freedomhouse.org/country/poland/nations-transit/2023 [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
Freedom House. (2023b). Hungary: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report. Freedom House. https://freedomhouse.org/country/hungary/freedom‑world/2023 [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
Freedom House. (2023c). Estonia: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report. Freedom House. https://freedomhouse.org/country/estonia/freedom-world/2023 [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
Human Rights Watch. (2013). Hungary: Rule of Law Under Threat. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/hungary-rule-law-under-threat [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
International Monetary Fund, 2023, World Economic Outlook: A Critical Juncture amid Policy Shifts, https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/ar/2023/ [dostęp: 23.01.2024].
Juhász, A. (2014). Announcing the “illiberal state”. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. https://www.boell.de/en/2014/08/21/announicing-illiberal-state [dostęp: 21.02.2024].
Kákai, L., 2020. Trailing back from quasi decentralisation to centralisation. Municipal reform in Hungary. Wschodnioznawstwo (Eastern Studies), Volume 14 (2020), pp. 117-137
Kelemen, RD & Blauberger, M 2017, Introducing the debate: European Union safeguards against member states democratic backsliding, Journal of European Public Policy, pp. 317-320.
Komisja Europejska. (2007). Rozszerzenie 2004: podjęte wyzwanie – UE 25. EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/PL/legal-content/summary/the-2004-enlargement-the-challenge-of-a-25-member-eu.html [dostęp: 09.12.2023].
Ladrech, R. (1994). Europeanization of Domestic Politics and Institutions: The Case of France. Journal of Common Market Studies, 32(1), 69–88.
Mardiste, Peep. (2011). Estonia (EU Member States’ Consultation with Civil Society on European Policy Matters).
Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej. (2024). Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz on Poland's 20 years in the EU: 'No other country in the region has taken advantage of its presence in the European Union as we have, this is a success of Polish women and men. Gov.pl. https://www.gov.pl/web/funds-regional-policy/minister [dostęp: 07.05.2024].
Molendowski E., 2014: Akcesja do Unii Europejskiej i jej wpływ na kształtowanie się strumieni handlu zagranicznego Polski w głównych relacjach z krajami Unii Europejskiej (w latach 2004–2012). [Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego], [Nr 1/2014], [103-104].
National Electoral Office, Hungary. (2010). Results of parties and independent candidates – national overview. Valasztas.hu. https://static.valasztas.hu/dyn/pv10/outroot/vdin2/en/l22.htm
Parlementaire Monitor. (2002). Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2002)700.
https://www.parlementairemonitor.nl/9353000/1/j4nvhdfdk3hydzq_j9tvgajcor7dxyk_j9vvij5epmj1ey0/vikqgzqob5zg [dostęp: 03.02.2024].
Radaelli, C. M. (2003). The Europeanization of Public Policy. In K. Featherstone & C. M. Radaelli (Eds.), The Politics of Europeanization (pp. 27–56). Oxford University Press.
Rada Unii Europejskiej. (2022). Praworządność: Rada wstrzymuje 6,3 mld EUR z uwagi na tylko częściowe działania zaradcze Węgier. Council of the European Union. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/pl/press/press-releases/2022/12/12/rule-of-law-conditionality-mechanism [dostęp: 28.11.2023].
Schimmelfennig, F. and Sedelmeier, U. (Eds.) (2005b) ‘Introduction: Conceptualizing the
Europeanization of Central and Eastern Europe’, in Schimmelfennig, F. and Sedelmeier U. (eds.), The Europeanization of Central and Eastern Europe. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1-28.
Schimmelfennig, F. (2008). EU political accession conditionality after the 2004 enlargement: consistency and effectiveness, Journal of European Public Policy, 15(6), 918–937, s. 919, 929, 934.
Schimmelfennig, F. (2016). EU enlargement and differentiated integration: discrimination or equal treatment? Journal of European Public Policy, 21(5), 681–698.
Transparency International. (2024). Corruption Perceptions Index 2023: Weak checks & balances undermining anti‑corruption efforts in Western Europe & EU. Transparency International. https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2023-west-europe-european-union-rule-of-law-political-integrity-threats-undermine-action-against-corruption [dostęp: 05.02.2024].
Transparency International Hungary. (2023). The Hungarian government is yet to comply with conditions to access EU funds. Transparency International Hungary. https://transparency.hu/en/news/the-hungarian-government-is-yet-to-comply-with-conditions-to-access-eu-funds/ [dostęp: 15.12.2023].
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/teka.2023.18.1.37-51
Date of publication: 2026-01-09 14:09:42
Date of submission: 2025-07-30 13:05:57
Statistics
Indicators
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Klaudia Sienkiewicz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.