DEMOCRACY AND ENLARGING THE EUROPEAN-UNION EASTWARDS

Democracy is a precondition for membership of the European Union (EU). What are the chances for democracy in the post-communist states of ce ntral and eastern Europe? The first section states arguments of doubte rs; the second and third present fresh empirical evidence from nation- wide surveys of public opinion in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungar y, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. Survey data show widespread popular support for the current regime as against the old communist r egime, and no substantial support for undemocratic alternatives. The c ritical feature of ex-communists is that they are now 'ex'. Given that the democratic precondition is met, this article secondly considers, what are the obstacles to enlargement within postcommunist countries? In central and eastern Europe the chief obstacle is the time required to create all the institutions of the market. Within the European Unio n there is also an obstacle- defining the post-1996 acquis communautai re - a task made more complex by the prospect of adding new Member Sta tes from central and eastern Europe.