Post on 14-Apr-2018
7/30/2019 Democracy in Moldova
1/5
Democracy in Moldova
The collapse of the Communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe and the breakup of the
SOVIET UNION started the process of deep transformation for a whole range of countries in
which the democratization of society was established as the primary goal. Initiated in more or
less similar, the process of democratization is the basic feature of political upheaval after 1991 a
number of about 27 countries, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe. However, experience thetransition so far, as well as the analysis of the situation with the go shows that countries in this
area recorded different results of the process of democratization. In this regard, outlining the
determinants of reform, diversity awareness and analysis of the role of these factors in society
should contribute to a better understanding of the specific conduct of the transition process and
the results obtained. We believe that no more a so context can be understood democratic
transition of the Republic of Moldova and the difference in the results that have been achieved as
a result of the process of democratization. In the literature highlight deep polemic on the
Genesis, essence and democratization processes. The situation in question is determined so that
some authors, such as M.Godelier, D.Rustow, A.Przeworski, addressing the process of
democratization emphasis on qualitative characteristics of democratisation, so authors such as
R.Banegus, D.Sandu, interprets the transition extensively, defining it as a simple social change, a
a simple stage. Without going into polemics, we'll just mention that the process of transition as a
historic step, relatively autonomous, States and processes reflect the divergent radical and
complex restructuring of society up to its exit to the qualitatively new stage of development of
the economy, the stabilization of social and political structures, which we summarize the
definition both the aspects of quality, as well as the quantity of the process extensively. The
analysis of democratic changes in the Republic of Moldova is a problem that requires easy at all
to show off the specific context of their realization. From our point of view, one of the
democratic transition of the Republic of Moldova is determined by combining structural
elements of the political transition and the transition to a market economy. Such a situation in the
literature is evaluated as a \"double transition\", i.e. the political transition and economictransition. Such a transition should be considered as a process more complicated and
controversial than mere democratization of the country. Such an interpretation is due to systemic
approach, according to which the political regime as a specific type of political relations has its
genesis not only in the political system, but also in general social system, including the economic
system. In this regard, the Republic of Moldova is not the only country that achieves \"double
transition\", we consider, however, that distinct economic structure, with its specific items causesa certain influence on the political transition in the country, and involved both internal factors, as
well as international.
The transition to a market economy in the Republic of Moldova, social-economic reforms have
resulted in the enormous social cost, with a high degree of poverty, caused by both objective
factors and subjective, which has deep implications in all areas of socio-economic and politicalorganizations in the country. Thus, Moldova is ranked 115 in terms of human development index
(0,671), below the average of the CIS-EC regional and global. Analysis of the relationship
between poverty and democracy is quite complex and requires a much deeper. First, we draw
attention to the fact that the majority of democratic States in the international system can be
defined as a state with a high degree of social welfare, and on the basis of this fact we are able to
identify the incompatibility between these two phenomena. However, the fact that some
countries, such as India, are labeled as democratic, or at least partially democratic, already
impose need deep reflections on the relationship between the two phenomena, excluding total
incompatibility. The interpretation by some authors of the material the toilsome ascent as
something inevitable in the context of democratic transition may lead to the conclusion that
poverty is enough to compromise democracy or democratic reform processes. If the reforms arenot implemented in democratic conditions, then it can institutionalise conflicts related to the
distribution, a fact that complicates democratic transition.
7/30/2019 Democracy in Moldova
2/5
Deep-seated political implications in the context of the transition are determined by another
effect of the transition economic emigration, according to the data presented, the impressive
proportions in the Republic of Moldova and varies between 600 thousand (the official data
presented) and 1 million emigrants. Analysis of the relationship between the democratic
transition, migration is a task not easy at present being absent some special publications that
demonstrate this solid connection. Every relationship requires a systemic approach, since these
two phenomena have tangent points that need to be harnessed in order to rationalise the socio-political practice, the optimization of the work of the decision-making bodies and the opposition.
The impressive dimensions of migration in the Republic of Moldova have affected human and
social capital are important factors required to be valued in the context of transition and
democratic consolidation. Thus, if the transition process migration is a fact proven when we
consider that the relationship can be reversed. According to the theory, demographic
transformations in turn is an important factor that causes profound changes in society. In the case
of the Republic of Moldova to increase the dimensions of the phenomenon under consideration
has had profound political implications of electoral processes, and full awareness of its effects on
the process in question is still to be removed. If we take into consideration the departure abroad
mainly to social categories and such a phenomenon as electoral preferences depending on the
categories of age, then we could infer the trends of predominance of political forces withnostalgic notes to the Soviet past. On the basis of the mentioned, we can conclude that the
process of democratic transition in the Republic of Moldova is a multidimensional phenomenon
which is characterized by a high degree of complexity of double transitionspolitical transition
and the transition to a market economy.
The complexity of the double transition of the Republic of Moldova shall be supplemented by a
third factor, which are required began recently in Western studies. It is the identitar, which
substantially complicates the process of democratic transition. The assumption that \"high
cultural, linguistic plurality, religion in some countries immature makes it more difficult
transition towards democracy\" has been used to identify the specifics of transition in some
countries of South-Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space. We believe that this assumption
relates perfectly to describe the situation in the Republic of Moldova. Disputes concerningnational identity persists at all levels, but especially are very deep at the political level, and civic
and political consensus of the society, which in our opinion is a basic prerequisite for the
successful achievement of the democratic transition. Such a crisis of national identity affects the
population's trust in the State institutions, as well as determine the worsening social and inter-
ethnic relations in the country. In addition, the crisis of this kind in a country without democratic
traditions constitute a temptation of antidemocratic behavior, the mechanism which can be
involved on the side of one of the parties of the conflict identitar, or from some political forces.
In this regard, several legislative acts and actions of State violated the neutrality and objectivity
in the position identitar. For example, the adoption Of the national policy of the Republic of
Moldova with the contested phrase \"political neutralization of demoldovenizare attempts by\"
authoritarian and shared involvement of the State in matters of language and history, without a
deep dialogue with civil society and the opposition, as well as the sharing of the resources of the
State concerned, affect the country's democratic transition and impugn the promoted reforms. In
this respect, the promotion and consolidation of democracy in the Republic of Moldova is
characterized by deep-seated identity crisis or national may be assisted only by the construction
of a State political equality to all citizens offer and withdrawal of the State within the limits of
the rule of law.
International or regional system within which the process of democratization is a prerequisite for
the successful achievement of it, a condition that is steadily ascent in the context of globalization
and increasing international interdependence. The role of the international environment in the
analysis of political developments was emphasised as early as at the beginning.XVI by n.Machiavelli, which emphasize that \"certain political phenomena can be driving forces or can be
influenced by two different groups: internal and external factors\". Also, I. Kant has expressed
7/30/2019 Democracy in Moldova
3/5
such a concern that \"the establishment of a national Constitution requires an appropriate order of
the State's foreign relations\", rejecting the idea of democracy where the dangers coming from
the outside press daily over the country. Analysis of external influence on the processes of
democratization in the literature is quite controversial, being highlighted several ways of
influence on the States. Thus, some authors highlight four analytical categories through which
you can achieve international actors influence analysis on the result of internal political control;
the influence of contagious (diffusion); the conviction; the conditioning. Support throughout theprocess of democratization in the international community of democratic States, represented by
Western European countries and North America is a fact excluded any doubts and we believe
that it requires a separate study. In our case, we want to emphasize the presence of another factor
that distinguishes the democratic transition of the Republic of Moldova the majority of
transitional processes and who claimed that permanent influence in the region. This is a factor
which in the literature is designated by the term regional hegemonic position and that our visionis represented by Federeaia, which in various ways has important capabilities to influence
political processes in the region in general and our country in particular. In this respect, an
approach of hegemony in the context of the process of democratization implies taking into
consideration the rationalism of selfish, non-materialized through cooperation and promotion of
based on interactions of \"power\". Such an approach to democratization processes ischaracteristic of the decolonization process followed, in which the hegemonul (formerly
Metropolis) has several means to influence the political process in the country's process of
transition: the structure of the system of economic relations, the elites are the hegemon,
ideologies, Church, military power.
Thus, the analysis of the influence of the Russian Federation on the processes of democratization
in the countries of the post-Soviet area requires separate attention. For a start it deserves to be
pointed out that the space has been defined in its basic laws governing foreign policy, as the
exclusive sphere of its vital interests, the concept played quite controversial in the post-Soviet
space. The implications of regional hegemon represented the Russian Federation can be traced
through its geopolitical and geostrategic interests not only summarizes the interactions with
countries of the region, including the Republic of Moldova, but must be examined in the widercontext of global interest. The Russian-Moldovan relations analysis to define the level of
security of the Republic of Moldova to be successful democratization has a great importance.
The influence of the Russian Federation on the process of democratization of the Republic of
Moldova from the influence of interpreted as normal within the traditional realistic approach to
intervention in the internal affairs, exceeding the State normalului in the interactions between the
States, to direct or indirect implications in the territorial conflict in the Republic of Moldova,
made in violation of international law and the agreements concluded between these two
countries.
Strong economic dependency of the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation and the
difference in power between the two countries, the Russian Federation and impressive
opportunities to influence the internal political processes. According to some authors, depending
on the situation, stage and interests, Russia has not hesitated to use economic pressure or even
military in the report with the post-Soviet countries. The charges of the Russian Federation on
the use of economic pressures for political antajului are not at all rare in the national political
life of Moldova. At the same time, the sequence of events that allow you to invoke the link
between the economic pressures and the refusal to sign the draft resolution of the Transnistrian
conflict in accordance with the national interest of the Republic of Moldova and international
law, of the one part, and the other hand, the statements of European integration of the Republic
of Moldova and continue to expand NATO in the region.
In this sense, a distinct way of influence with profound implications for the process of
democratization is the Russian involvement in the Transnistrian conflict. The success of theinstitutionalization of separatism in the Republic of Moldova is either partially or even largely
due to the support provided by the Russian Federation. It's about supporting the economic,
7/30/2019 Democracy in Moldova
4/5
political, military, financial, separatism and even direct involvement, the first stage of the war, of
the Russian Federation to the separatist forces, which resulted in serious consequences for the
process of democratization and security national of the Republic of Moldova. It is also necessary
to note the presence on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the withdrawal of military
contingent which is followed by the years of the Republic of Moldova and which is permanently
delayed, in violation of the neutrality of the Republic of Moldova and the rules of international
law. Interest in the geo-strategic potential of the Russian Federation to maintain its armies in theterritory of post-Soviet space can be shown by analogy in the case of Belarus with Russia has
already reached an agreement that allows the location of military bases. Such a judgment is even
more present in a situation in which NATO expansion to the East has made, in the case of the
Baltic countries to penetrate the space of the former Soviet Union, which comes in complete
contradiction with the interests of the Russian post-Soviet \"sphere of its interests\" in the
concept of security and foreign policy, expressed in terms of \"neighbourhood\". At the same
time, the importance of geostrategic (or rather of the Transnistrian conflict) lies in the continuing
rise of Ukraine make statements strongly enhanced integration into European and Euro-Atlantic
structures. Such situation is due to the fact that the Russian Federation Ukraine occupies a
special position in the structure of national geo-strategic potential, a fact that has been well
argued works of Zb. Brzezinski.The proclamation of independence of the Republic of Moldova initiated the process of
democratization, the shift to a market economy to be protected the rights of all citizens. These
tasks are explicitly formulated in almost all political and legal acts which are the initial period of
establishment of independent statehood. But subsequent developments of events highlights the
dependence of a number of risks and threats which constitute factors that hinder the successful
implementation of the above mentioned tasks. In this respect, it should be noted that the double
transition to the market economy and political transition, together with the profound identity
crisis and a strong influence from the outside, which was complemented by the need of
statehood, admindu that\"democratization and marketizare, post-Communist States have
inherited bureaucratic institutions weak, ineffective to be reformed\". Analysis of the idea of
creating statehood is an issue at all easy and worth to be noted that most of this territory wasendowed with a political structure due to permanent international confrontations between major
powers. In this sense, during the years of independence the Republic of Moldova has
demonstrated a high degree of vulnerability of one of the main component elements of the State
from the perspective of democracy and national security, and that is the idea. This vulnerability
affects statehood deep processes of democratisation of Moldovan society and has achieved
directly through the separatism, which represent a direct threat to the entire system of the
Republic of Moldova and calling into question the very existence Of the Republic of Moldova.
In this regard, a major factor that influenced the permanent process of democratization of the
Republic of Moldova is the Transnistrian conflict, which constituted an important factor for
destabilization of the situation in the country. The first impact of the conflict is political
instability generated by it. The separatism in the eastern part of the country is a problem for
many reasons. First, it questioned the very existence of the State in the absence of control over
the region generates the risk of maintaining the Republic of Moldova in the group failed States,
not having the opportunity to exercise power and administer the territory. At the same time,
segregation and was promoted in Transnistria represent serious challenges to democracy and
stability in the country, which in their essence shall preserve a climate of ethnic intolerance,
linguistic exclusivity and terror, and these implications affect deeply political consensus across
the country that, as menionasem above, constitutes one of the fundamental conditions for the
success of the democratization process. Secondly, the implications of their negative social
developments in conflicts have profound negative influence on economic development, a factor
that contributes to the development of poverty and economic underdevelopment, and therebyaffecting the democratic development of the country in general. In this sense, the conflict in
Transnistria has deeply complicated the transition to the market economy and the disintegration
7/30/2019 Democracy in Moldova
5/5
of the internal market has diminished economic potential of the country with about one third of
industrial potential and ninety percent of the energy, thus contributing to the high degree of
poverty in the country, according to the human development Reports, recorded one of the most
low indices in Europe. Also, the existence of the conflict affects the country's image by reducing
the investment appeal. Thus, Moldova during the years of transition has seen a low volume of
investment actually made also of the existence of the conflict, and the supply of shadow
economy through the activity of smuggling, tax evasion is in turn the influence of negativeaspects of the conflict on the process of economic and political transformation of the country.
The link between democracy and security is evident. Although democracy is not regarded as a
mechanism to guarantee the security, however, through its institutions and mechanisms it
contributes to enhancing security. The development factors of insecurity is by the reversal and
the threat to democracy. In this sense, the power of organised crime, trafficking of arms, drugs
and people, illegal trade constitute threats of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian regime to the
entire system and the process of democratization of the Republic of Moldova.
On the basis of the mentioned above conclude that political transition towards democracy of
Moldova takes place in a specific context which is continually influenced by the international
environment, involving the establishment of a distinct influences from a whole range of factors.
The democratization of the Republic of Moldova should assume in the context of such anapproach, not only a specific type of social relations, but also a certain specific order in the
context of external relations. Or, on the basis of claims referred to the foreign policy of the State,
as well as the entire State mechanism must be geared towards the achievement of the tasks for
the democratisation of society.