Bachelor of Arts, Marietta College, 2009, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Religion

This study examines the factors contributing to the success of democratization in terms of its consolidation and sustainability in post-communist countries including the influence of economic freedom, the external powers and the process of democratization. How those factors determine the democratization outcome, and how they interact with each other, is significant as it relates to political theories of democratization and potential democratization outside Eastern Europe. By studying two cases, Poland and Ukraine, the external powers and the process of democratization has demonstrated a great influence on the political development of these two countries.

Committee: Mark Schaefer PhD (Advisor); Mike Tager PhD (Advisor); Rees-Miller Janie PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Political Science