Student Research Projects

Democracy in Eastern Europe and Russia

Student Name(s)	Rosheena Lewis
Faculty Mentor(s)	Dr. Laura Landolt
Department	Political Science
Course	POLS 499: Senior Seminar

Abstract

What are the most powerful causes of democracy in Eastern Europe and Russia? Some of the major debates in this field concern whether or not NGOs contribute to democratization in Eastern Europe and Russia. Is foreign aid for NGOs a cause of democracy, or a waste of money? This question is significant because researchers need to determine whether NGO funding helps or hinders countries as they are making that transition. My hypothesis is that countries that receive external democracy aid through NGOs have a smoother transition to a democracy than unfunded countries.