1) Bibliographic data
Pridham, Geoffrey (1999), “Complying with the European Union’s Democratic Conditionality: Transnational Party Linkages and Regime Change in Slovakia, 1993-1998,” Europe-Asia Studies, V 51-7: 1221-1244.

2) Question(s) addressed by the author and working arguments
Transnational party linkages as a specific arena for testing international influences on democratization. “Hybrid Regimes” are post-authoritarian regimes which meet only a minimum standards for democracy and operate in a manner contrary to democratic practice.
The game of democratization is not lost and may therefore influenced from outside.
External pressures derived from the European Union (EU) are really a dependent variable with the readiness of internal actors, in particular their European preferences, being the decisive factor. There are different ways in which democratic conditionality may be promoted, both by pressure and by support programs.
Possibilities for influence from transnational activity may cover party identity and early problematic development, the acquisition of political experience and expertise and building up party organization. The evolution of transnational party linkages started basically from scratch after the collapse of communism, as almost everywhere in central and eastern Europe. The advantages gained by parties involved in transnational cooperation have included regular contacts and visits as well as transferred experience such as programmatic influence and reinforcement of party identities. External solidarity was a reference point or source of moral but also material support. This external solidarity must be seen in the context of democracy-building programmes from outside.
Transnational linkages have always been that much more attractive to opposition parties because they provide an international stage for politicians missing the paraphernalia and travel opportunities of government office. Transnational links are far better known among educated sectors of the population.

3) Conceptual references to transnational – transnationalism
Transnational activity, transnational party linkages, transnational cooperation, transnational linkages, transnational links.

4) Conclusions or Final Remarks
The professionalization of party politics was seen in the usual know-how acquired from transnational partners. Given that Slovakia is unlikely to enter the EU for some years, almost certainly remaining in the second wave of Central and East European entrants, then transnational party cooperation will continue to provide a useful channel for smoothing the way.