1) Compare and contrast the post-communist societies in Central Asia with those in Eastern Europe in terms of their success or failure in democratic transition. What kinds of factors in these countries enabled or impeded successful democratic transition? Generalize the factors in each region that played role when you compare. Which factor is mostly needed for successful democratization in the region that failed? Explain why.
2) Do you think social movements or elites (from below or above) play important role in stabilizing and consolidating democratic processes in transitioning countries? Explain with example for each situation in two different countries (one for social movement, one for elite-led democratization). In your answer give reasons as to why you think one is more successful than the other.
3) Explain three institutional dimensions of presidential and parliamentarian political systems, considering majoritarian and consensus types of participation in politics. Which of these institutions and political arrangements, do you think, are better in terms of democratic participation and policy making? Explain why. Create a model pairing different institutions among these political systems as your preferred model of democracy.
4) Explain how democratization is initiated in Latin American countries and what played role in prompting this process, giving 2 examples of individual countries. Discuss what kind of problems in the way of their democratization compared to the other regions. What type of factors and policies are necessary in those countries to facilitate democratization?
