Political support in the baltic states, 1993–2004

The object of this article is to map trends in public support for Baltic political regimes during the transition period. Using a multidimensional model of political support, the article tracks trends in identification with the political community, approval of regime principles, evaluations of regime performance, and trust in political institutions. The results suggest that popular satisfaction with Baltic political regimes is increasing, presumably as a result of improved economic and political performance. However, there are three reasons for concern: frustration with parliaments and political parties is widespread, the ‘attitudinal consolidation’ of democracy remains incomplete, and there is a significant ethnic gap in popular regime evaluations in Latvia and Estonia.