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Call for Papers: Session: The Impact of Political Culture on the Democratisation in Eastern Europe - Theoretical Remarks and Empirical Results at the Conference ,ISSEI 2000 - Approaching a new millenium: Lessons from the past - prospects for the future",14-18. August 2000 , Bergen/Norway The workshop will deal with the question, whether political culture or indicators of the civil society concept are able to illustrate different developments in the process of democratisation in Eastern European nations. Using a comparative perspective scientists from different European countries handle a broad range of interesting questions according to these general topic. Theoretical concepts will be linked with funded empirical analysis to give adequate answers to some of the following questions. Does democratisation need support of the citizens for its stability? Is trust in the democratic institutions a necessary condition for civil society and democracy? >From the starting point of the political support concept of David Easton and the early thoughts of Allmond and Verba, we have to take a glance at the development and situation of the political cultures in the Eastern or Central European countries. Historical cleavages and the ongoing process of nation building in Eastern Europe also had an impact on the process of democratisation in various ways. Both concepts are important for the creation of a stable civil society - whatever the term means. And that leeds to the next theoretical questions. What are the real contents of the constructs of civil society and political culture? Theoretical advantage and empirical relevance are the aims for this part of the discussion. Last but not least, we would like to involve the institutions in the analysis. Recent scholarship on democracy presumes a causal link between political institutions (for example institutionalised party systems and the rules of government) and democratic consolidation. Is this true? Here it should be helpful to integrate the debate on formal and informal institutions in the discussion. All these aspects are modules of the complex analysis of democratisation in the transition countries in Eastern Europe and their fundamental link to the development of a robust democratic culture. Or to use the term of Linz/Stepan, "attitudinally, democracy becomes the only game in town when, even in the face of severe political and economic crises, the overwhelming majority of the people believe that any further political change must emerge from within the parameter of democratic procedures". This idea will be the matrix for the workshop. The papers may concern - political culture and support - cleavage structures and nation building processes - political (formal and informal) institutions and their impact on democratic consolidation The papers have to concern Eastern Europe. Comparative designs are favoured. Comparisons to Western Europe are welcome, too. It would be nice, if some empirical studies can be added. The papers should not exceed 3000 words and the maximum time for presentation will be 15 minutes plus 10-15 minutes discussion. Abstracts (1-2 pages) should be submitted by 1 Dec. 1999. Accepted speakers will be informed by 20 Dec. 1999. The conference language will be English. Further information and details can be obtained from Gert and Susanne Pickel European University Viadrina P.O. Box 1786 D - 15207 Frankfurt (Oder) Tel.: +49 335 5534 922/842 Fax: +49 335 5534 923 E-mail: [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Gert Pickel Europa Universitaet Viadrina Lehrstuhl fuer vergleichende Kultursoziologie Fakultaet Kulturwissenschaften Postfach 776 D-15207 Frankfurt/Oder Tel.: 0335-5534-922 Fax.: 0335-5534-923 email: [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%