Is Poland a consolidated democracy - Research Paper Example

The civil society, which gave voice to social groups, was a striking metaphysical idea that appeared to capture the wide gap between the ruled and rulers in the communist world (Biskupski 23). Only a few countries of the Soviet bloc - Poland and Hungary – exhibited sovereign structures of civil societies before the 90’s. These structures advocated, for this conceptual tool, to be applied in the whole region. Poland, in particular, pulled out from this Soviet bloc when the union broke. The country considers itself as a democracy, but questions have been raised to question this notion.

Therefore, this paper will discuss whether or not Poland is a consolidated democracy giving facts in line with the instructions stated. The two-turnover test means that a nation has undergone the process of democratizing itself from an emergent democracy to a stable democracy (Davies 3). An emergent democracy must go through two democratic, as well as a peaceful turnover governing parties in order to become a stable democracy. Poland has undergone these changes, and it can be sternly ranked as a consolidated democracy (Davies 4).

Poland, in 1989-1991, endorsed a democratic transition that put an end to the Polish Peoples Republic and created a democratic regime, which was referred to as the Polish Third Republic. After a decade of democratic consolidation, this country joined NATO, in 1999, along with the European Union (EU) in 2004. From the 70s to the 80s, tension increased between the citizens of Poland along with its Communist government. During this period, the rest of the Eastern bloc’s influence on the Soviet Union weakened.

With the introduction of "perestroika" under Mikhail Gorbachev, in the Soviet Union, a chance was introduced finally to modify the system of ruling, after the harsh era of martial law (1981-83) brought by General Jaruzelski. After this period, Poland became a consolidated democracy (Davies 6). Poland