Europe and Eurasia

The Eurasia region faces many challenges in overcoming a legacy shaped by nearly 70 years of authoritarian Soviet rule and, in Turkey, periods of political instability and a number of military coups d’etats in recent decades. These challenges include balancing integration into the global economy and international institutions while meeting the demands and needs of citizens at home for representative, transparent and accountable systems and structures of governance. While numerous political parties and civil society organizations now exist across the region, these groups often struggle to establish themselves as effective advocates of citizens’ needs and active participants in the political process. More participatory political systems also require genuine and competitive election processes and representative political institutions that are capable of reaching out to citizens and incorporating their feedback.