Articles

The Georgian exception and the challenge of cohabitation

By Alexandra Krasteva and Andreea Flintoaca-Cojocea | 3 December 2012

Elections in Georgia surpassed expectations. The climate of polarisation that preceded election day laid the foundation for contested results and a prolonged stalemate. None of this happened. On the contrary, the ruling party admitted defeat and did not call demonstrations. Georgia’s parliamentary elections were won by the opposition (55% of votes, 84 out of 150 seats), incarnated by the Georgian Dream coalition. This came without violence, which is indeed unprecedented  in Georgia since its independence. The de facto one-party rule in Georgia and the worrying authoritarian inclinations of the Saakashvili era came to an end. As such, elections in Georgia sent an important signal elsewhere in the Post-Soviet space and came to the great satisfaction of international organisations promoting democratic standards.

Ukraine – towards “stability and well being”?

By Alexandra Krasteva and Andreea Flintoaca-Cojocea | 3 December 2012

The Ukrainian parliamentary elections’ day turned out to be calm and the voting process peaceful, mainly because the main actors played their winning cards well in advance.

Belarus: dictatorship continues

By Alexandra Krasteva and Andreea Flintoaca-Cojocea | 3 December 2012

It is no news that elections in Belarus follow a well-written scenario designed by President Aleksander Lukashenko’s administration. In a state completely submitted to the ruling power, with the two main opposing parties boycotting the race, the September parliamentary elections were anything but competitive from the start. As usually in Belarus, it is not just the lack of competition that led the OSCE/ODIHR and other international observers to qualify the recent elections as contrary to many fundamental democratic standards.

With or Without You: Is There a Future for the UK in the EU?

By Rose Lemardeley | 25 November 2012

 A lecture given by Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, the prominent London-based think tank defining itself as “pro-European but not uncritical”, offers us a great opportunity to reflect on one of today’s most salient issues in the European Union (EU): the future of the UK in, or outside, the EU.

Will black clouds on the bilateral relationship between U.S-Turkey disappear after US elections 2012?

By Gizem Oztürk | 6 November 2012

Over the past two years, the worldwide political scene has witnessed major challenges of political transitions in different territories that led to radical changes for countries. During this period Ankara and Washington relations have hit a rough patch on the road. Recent tensions in Syria, even creates more political issues in between these two key players. So what shall we expect next, especially giving the fact that a general election is approaching in the states.

Does traditional media practice remain in the shadow of the ubiquity of social media elements on voting behavior in American Presidential Elections 2012?

By Gizem Oztürk | 6 November 2012

Study of Voting Behaviour began in the twentieth century, and since then various factors had several impacts on it such as social class, geography, age and media. However, nowadays one can claim that the strongest instrument that affects the social behaviour is the Digital Media rather than the traditional one. 

How will the results of elections affect the EU-US relations?

By Delphine Roulland | 6 November 2012

2012, the year of change. The French and Greek elections – both held in May – greatly affected the US economy and its prospects of recovery. The 2012 US presidential elections will most certainly do the same to Europe. Friends and foes, the US and the European Union have gone through all kinds of relationships. After 6 November, what will it become? 

Why ideology matters

By Andreas Sowa | 6 November 2012

Why should we care about the US presidential election? Yes, there are differences between Obama and Romney. And yes, these differences are all but negligible. But do these differences, these contrasts in the policies they propose, really relate to us?

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