POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN TRANSITIONAL DEMOCRACIES: CATEGORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENON

Abstract

With the help of etymological and institutional approaches, the article analyzes theoretical aspects of the activity of opposition as a new legitimate participant of the political process in the context of democratic transformations in the post-communist states. In order to distinguish other actors of opposition activity through the concept of “opposition”, the author intentionally narrowed down the concept of “political opposition” to the institution of political parties as they are main potential subjects of power.