Money and Politics: Legislative, Institutional and Cultural Factors of Political Competition
The influence of money in politics represents one of the most debated issues in democracy assistance communities and between politicians. While essential for political competition, the growth of the role of political funding in electoral processes is creating, in the eyes of many observers, serious challenges to democratic process. This paper focuses on Eastern Europe and the EU’s Eastern neighborhood, but some of the ideas and problems discussed here may be applicable elsewhere. It addresses some of the regulatory, institutional and cultural aspects of political financing and discusses potential reforms and necessary paradigm shifts that will be helpful in reinvigorating and strengthening democratic institutions.