The paper analyzes spatial patterns of party support in the five post-Soviet transitional countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine. Data on electoral geography is employed to measure the degrees and dynamics of political autonomy and institutionalization of party systems in the...

German Abstract: Für den 25. Mai 2014 sind vorgezogene Präsidentschaftswahlen angesetzt. Trotz der großen Anzahl an Kandidaten sind vor allem drei Nominierungen und die mit ihnen verbundenen Ereignisse für den Ausgang der Wahlen zentral: Erstens der Rückzug Witalij Klitschkos und die...

The objective of this paper is to conduct primary research on the cost of parliamentary politics in Ukraine, the financial implications of running for a seat in the national parliament (Rada), and the cost incurred by an MP once in office. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with current and...