Through compelling contributions from experts on democratization, this volume analyzes the impact and importance of civil society development and external civil society promotion on democracy promotion in post-socialist Eastern Europe. Looking specifically at countries with a failed or deficient process of democratic consolidation, where civil society is viewed as a substitute or complement to democracy promotion in government, the contributors explore the problems and unintended consequences of external democracy promotion on civil society development. The theoretical contributions analyze roles civil society play for democratization and how democracy promotion can support or undermine these roles. The empirical contributions cover a wide range of civil society actors and current developments in various Eastern European countries.

With contributions from experts on democracy promotion, this volume examines civil society development and external civil society promotion in post-socialist Europe. It focuses on countries with a failed or deficient process of democratic consolidation looking at unintended consequences of external democracy promotion on civil society development.