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The Emergence of Career Politicians in Post‐Communist Democracies: Poland and the Czech Republic
Author(s) -
SHABAD GOLDIE,
SLOMCZYNSKI KAZIMIERZ M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
legislative studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.728
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1939-9162
pISSN - 0362-9805
DOI - 10.2307/3598567
Subject(s) - czech , legislature , consolidation (business) , communism , democracy , politics , political science , general election , political economy , lower house , public administration , economics , law , accounting , philosophy , linguistics
Despite party system fluidity and high rates of electoral volatility in the first decade after the transition to democracy in Poland and the Czech Republic, career politicians are emerging. Using data on all parliamentary candidates in the last election before the fall of communism and in all elections since then, we show that, in both countries, parliamentary carryover rates have risen substantially, a growing number of incumbents are seeking reelection, and an increasing proportion of candidates for legislative office have competed in previous parliamentary elections. Moreover, we demonstrate that prior political experience has a persistent and positive effect on winning office. We argue that the rise of career politicians facilitates the consolidation and effectiveness of these new democracies.