Supported by: International Visegrad Fund, Konrad Adenauer Schtiftung
Project span: June 2006 – April 2007
Project team: Martin Bútora, Pál Tamas, Jacek Kucharczyk, Ivan Gabal
Co-organizing institutions: Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Public Affairs (Poland), Gabal Analysis & Consulting, s.r.o. (CR)
Objective: To study political, economic, cultural and security implications of the parliamentary elections held in Visegrad countries in 2005-2006. Besides their domestic impact, the analyses will include their possible influence on European constitution-related agenda, on decisions about social and economic reforms in EU countries, as well as on shaping EU neighborhood policies, in particular towards the East and South. In how far were the outcomes marked by various forms of populism and how does this correspond to the situation in “Old Europe”? What will be the consequences on Visegrad cooperation? The project will have a form of a conference followed by the publication of a book based on conference proceedings; the book will be presented in all V-4 countries. All events will be opened to a broad audience of policy makers, students, media, academics, civic organizations and diplomats.
For the V-4 countries, these are the first elections held after their entry into the EU and NATO. The main goal of the project “Visegrad Elections: Domestic Impact and European Consequences” is a common reflection of political, economic, foreign policy, security and cultural implications of these elections from different angles and perspectives provided by experts from all Visegrad countries as well as by some international scholars.
Besides analyses aimed at domestic impact of national elections, it is necessary to study possible consequences of Visegrad elections on broader European space. In this context it is important to ask, if and how could these elections and resulting new governments influence:
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European discussion on constitution-related agenda
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EU decisions related to social and economic reforms in the member states
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shaping of the EU neighborhood policies, in particular towards the East and the South.
There is also another topic of special interest that has both domestic and European dimension. In how far were the pre-electoral discourse in the public and media, the programs of political parties and candidates, as well as final outcomes marked by various forms of populism and how does this correspond to the situation in “Old Europe”?
Last but not least, it is relevant to ask, to what extent could these elections effect future Visegrad cooperation?
The project will have a form of an international conference organized in Bratislava in early Fall, accompanied by lectures, discussions and debates opened to a broad audience of policy makers, students, media, academics, civic organizations and diplomats. The contributions and conclusions presented at the conference will be published in a book in English and Slovak, which will be presented, discussed and distributed in all V-4 countries and hopefully also beyond Visegrad space.
Outputs:
Conference: "Visegrad Elections: Domestic Impact and European Consequences", 27th of September 2006, Hotel Tatra, Bratislava
