Join Krisztina Arato as she explores the evolution of civil society in post-communist East Central Europe and reveals profound shifts in its concepts, forms, and context, offering insights into broader understandings of governance and democracy in the region.
Join Agnieszka Kwiatkowska to understand the impact of young women on Polish politics.
The 2023 Polish elections, widely perceived as a critical juncture amid concerns of democratic backsliding, represented a pivotal moment for the country’s democratic integrity. This study focuses on the social mobilisation termed ‘the revolution of the politically disinterested’, driven predominantly by groups typically disengaged from politics, particularly young women. Historically, these women have demonstrated the least interest in politics and the lowest voter turnout in general elections. However, in 2023, they emerged as a decisive force, exhibiting voting preferences significantly divergent from the broader electorate.
Since 2016, and especially following the Constitutional Tribunal’s 2020 abortion ruling, there has been noticeable political mobilisation among women, particularly within younger cohorts. This shift manifested in increased declarations of interest in politics, unprecedented participation in the 2020 presidential elections in Poland, and a marked inclination towards left-wing political stances. This surge in political engagement notably influenced the strong focus on women’s rights in the agendas of opposition political parties. In 2023, the political activation of this demographic, initially hesitant about participating in elections, became increasingly apparent in the weeks leading up to the elections, resulting in an unprecedented turnout.
Using a representative survey with survey experiments conducted a month after the 2023 parliamentary elections, this study investigates the social mobilisation around gender issues as pivotal to the election outcome. The research reveals a reversal of conservative trends established during the Law and Justice (PiS) rule, particularly regarding attitudes towards women’s political representation. It also emphasises the centrality of women’s rights in electoral mobilisation and identifies gender-specific strategies in candidate selection on electoral lists.
Looking ahead to the 2024 European Parliament elections, this study underscores that mobilisation, especially among young cohorts, around women’s rights is temporal and conditional. Sustaining this momentum will necessitate continued efforts from both governmental and non-governmental actors.
Join Benedicta Marzinotto as she analyses the ‘China shock’ in Europe, connecting radical right support with shifts in consumption patterns, global trade, and more.
Join Manuela Moschella as she explores the EU’s economic security policy and its impact on globalisation and market interventionism
Join Jasminka Pecotić Kaufman as she explores the challenges and developments in competition law enforcement within East European NCAs.
In some East European countries, vigorous competition law enforcement comes at a great cost for National Competition Authorities (NCAs). Non-volitional leadership change, enforcement intensity slow-downs, and controversial judicial rebukes work to destabilise the competition systems’ development. On the contrary, other jurisdictions in the region are developing a focused and forward-looking competition policy alongside building a steady enforcement tradition.
Previous research (Pecotic Kaufman 2021, 2022, 2023) indicates that despite the prohibition of cartels featuring as a central norm of the transplanted market competition system under the auspices of the Europeanization process, the NCAs’ activities to enforce this encountered difficulties due to a dominant collusive culture setting in some post-socialist EU Member States.
By comparing the cartel enforcement track record and institutional capacities (budget, staff) of selected East European NCAs, the hypothesis is tested that – in those countries – cartel prohibition is counter-cultural and that enforcing it provokes competition system instability or decline in the long run. The concept of institutional resilience is used to explain the apparent differences between the post-socialist EU Member States in this respect.