PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS

The most widely studied aspects of changes of the current policy comprise democratization in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe and changes in totalitarian countries of Latin America, Asia and part of Africa, and recently of the Arab spring countries (e.g. Egypt). This interval of transition between the successive political regimes is in academic surrounding known as transitology or theory of transitions and the article devotes to typology of transitions identifying the most critical points of this process with special focus to its stages and specific features in the given countries, as democratic transition comprises two stages (or transitions). The process itself begins with initial and increasing crises of the authoritarian regime bringing some forms of political openness and greater respect to the fundamental rights of citizens, and then followed by creation of elected government in free elections with identified guarantees for the respect to democratic rights and freedoms. Second stage follows after having formed a new, democratic government and is concluded by creating a well consolidated democratic regime proving all the required features. Theoretical debate round these two stages is accompanied with proving examples (as Spain, Egypt or in Central/Eastern Europe). The article also deals with another problem occurring in the process of democratisation, i.e. with distinguishing roles of liberalisation and democratisation of the societies while liberalization in this process means the release of depression and expansion of freedoms and transition to democracy brings change of the whole political regime.