Postcommunist Presidents

Cambridge University Press, 9/11/1997
EAN 9780521582827, ISBN10: 0521582822

Hardcover, 262 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English

The political systems that have replaced communist rule in East-Central Europe and Eurasia are closely associated with their presidents. The first democratically-elected presidents of these countries - men like Yeltsin, Havel and Waesa - have frequently been viewed as 'founding fathers' of their countries' independence. But were they successful in creating strong presidential systems in these states? Has their unquestioned personal power and charisma been institutionalized in the presidencies? Will executive power in postcommunist states remain the same when the first incumbents of the office are gone? This book, first published in 1997, offers a comparative analysis of the role of presidents in postcommunist states. Comprising studies of Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakstan among former Soviet republics, and Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary among Central European states, this book will be required reading for readers interested in how political leaders affect the fate of democracy in the former communist world.

Introduction
some thoughts on presidentialism in postcommunist Europe Juan J. Linz
1. Separating power
keeping presidents in check Ray Taras
2. Russia
presidential leadership under Yeltsin Stephen White
3. Ukraine
two presidents and their powers Andrew Wilson
4. Kazakstan
Nursultan Nazarbaev as strong president Martha Brill Olcott
5. Poland
Walesa's legacy to the presidency Krzysztof Jasiewicz
6. The Czech Republic
Havel and the evolution of the presidency since 1989 Sharon L. Wolchik
7. Hungary
political transition and executive conflict
the balance or fragmentation of power Patrick H. O'Neil
8. Afterword
the making of postcommunist presidencies Jon Elster.

"Ray Taras and his coauthors have produced a useful work that captures the intricacy of creating presidential power in the early years of the postcommunist transformation." Timothy Frye, American Political Science Review

"...this book is a useful resource in bridging the gap between area studies and comparative politics....it should be in every four-year college library as a reference work." Choice