This dissertation contributes to an increased understanding of democracy promotion.
Empirically, the study focuses on the multi-faced democratisation process in Macedonia; the
official Swedish policy for democracy promotion; and actual Swedish attempts to promote
democracy in Macedonia in the period 2000–2006. Theoretically, the study advances an
analytical framework, which serves to bring clarity to democracy promotion as a concept. It is
argued that democracy promotion embodies six structural components, and should be
understood as activities adopted and/or supported by foreign actors, as part of a relationship
between the democracy promoter and the recipient country, based on a set of motives and
shaped through the use of different strategies, methods and channels. Moreover, the issue of
impact is investigated, primarily because of its possible influence on democracy promoter’s
strategy choices. The analytical framework is used to investigate the character of Swedish
democracy promotion, and to develop a typology of the roles of democracy promotion in
democratisation processes. It is argued that the Swedish policy for democracy promotion is
permeated by a Swedish democratic self-image, eclectic theoretical reflection, and flexibility.
In addition, it is argued that Sweden is primarily driven by altruistic and ideological motives,
and acts to promote legal and societal democracy, and that the allocation of democracy
promotion resources is based on theoretical as well as practical considerations. The study
describes Macedonia as a grey-zone democracy with a future political trajectory largely
dependent on the ability to improve upon the conditions in three different transitional
dimensions. On the basis of the analysis of Sweden’s attempts to promote democracy in
Macedonia, the study advances a typology of the roles of democracy promotion in
democratisation processes, these being: educator, initiator, and supporter. Together with the
analytical framework, this role typology provides new possibilities to study, and understand,
democracy promotion.