Andrew Roberts is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. He is the author of From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk: A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture (2005) and has published articles in numerous journals, including Comparative Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Electoral Studies, Party Politics, Slavic Review, the Journal of Public Policy, and East European Politics and Societies.

• Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Conceptual Analysis: 2. Assessing the quality of democracy; Part II. Statistical Analysis: Introduction to the Statistical Analyses: 3. Electoral accountability; 4. Mandate responsiveness; 5. Policy responsiveness; Part III. Case Study Analysis: Introduction to the Case Studies: 6. The politics of pension reforms; 7. The politics of housing reforms; Part IV. Implications: 8. Explaining democratic quality; 9. Conclusions; Bibliography.

“What is the quality of democracy in postcommunist East Central Europe? In this provocative and intriguing analysis, Andrew Roberts finds surprising answers to this important question and demonstrates how these countries overcame both the legacies of authoritarian rule and the challenges of regime transformation.” – Anna Grzymala-Busse, University of Michigan

Andrew Roberts is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. He is the author of From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk: A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture (2005) and has published articles in numerous journals, including Comparative Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Electoral Studies, Party Politics, Slavic Review, the Journal of Public Policy, and East European Politics and Societies.

• Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Conceptual Analysis: 2. Assessing the quality of democracy; Part II. Statistical Analysis: Introduction to the Statistical Analyses: 3. Electoral accountability; 4. Mandate responsiveness; 5. Policy responsiveness; Part III. Case Study Analysis: Introduction to the Case Studies: 6. The politics of pension reforms; 7. The politics of housing reforms; Part IV. Implications: 8. Explaining democratic quality; 9. Conclusions; Bibliography.

“What is the quality of democracy in postcommunist East Central Europe? In this provocative and intriguing analysis, Andrew Roberts finds surprising answers to this important question and demonstrates how these countries overcame both the legacies of authoritarian rule and the challenges of regime transformation.” – Anna Grzymala-Busse, University of Michigan

Andrew Roberts is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. He is the author of From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk: A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture (2005) and has published articles in numerous journals, including Comparative Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Electoral Studies, Party Politics, Slavic Review, the Journal of Public Policy, and East European Politics and Societies.

• Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Conceptual Analysis: 2. Assessing the quality of democracy; Part II. Statistical Analysis: Introduction to the Statistical Analyses: 3. Electoral accountability; 4. Mandate responsiveness; 5. Policy responsiveness; Part III. Case Study Analysis: Introduction to the Case Studies: 6. The politics of pension reforms; 7. The politics of housing reforms; Part IV. Implications: 8. Explaining democratic quality; 9. Conclusions; Bibliography.

“What is the quality of democracy in postcommunist East Central Europe? In this provocative and intriguing analysis, Andrew Roberts finds surprising answers to this important question and demonstrates how these countries overcame both the legacies of authoritarian rule and the challenges of regime transformation.” – Anna Grzymala-Busse, University of Michigan