Comparative Analysis of Ombudsman Institute Across Post-Soviet Countries

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the ombudsman institute across post-Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Latvia which were selected as comparators according to the Most Different System Design. Cases under comparison differ in their political regimes, economic and institutional developments but share the common phenomena which s the ombudsman institute. By researching the development, institutional structure, functions and national laws establishing ombudsman institutes in these countries the present thesis aims to answer the main research question of how the context determines the viability of imported institutions. In order to answer this question the qualitative content analysis of national laws on ombudsmen of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Latvia was conducted along with the analysis of the existing political regimes in these countries. In interpreting the findings on the ombudsman institute the classic model of Scandinavian ombudsman and typology of contemporary models of ombudsman institutes were applied. While the literature on institutionalism and interaction of formal and informal institutions was used in analyzing the findings on the political regime and underlying informal rules was utilized. Comparative analysis of the gathered data give grounds to conclude that ombudsman institute for human rights as a new aspect of democracy is not viable in the regime characterized by strong informal rules and weak formal rules of democracy.