Chasing Putnam : The Relationship between Democratization and Civicness in Transitional Post-Communist Countries

Democracy and civic involvement are core values of contemporary Europe. To what extent do citizens’ attitudes relate with democratization, a process in which half of the continent was involved in recent years? By examining 16 post-Communist countries in their transition process until 1998, this article reveals that the level of political culture and tolerance in society makes a difference regarding their democratic achievements. At the same time, the interpersonal trust, authoritarian attitudes, and materialist values are long-standing attitudes in society that do not explain the change in democratic performances. Consistent with previous research on Western Europe, our analysis provides a useful basis for further investigation about democratization