Accounts of the first five years of Slovakia's independence tend to find an explanation for her transformation from a front-runner to join NATO and the European Union into the black sheep of Central Europe in two words: Vladimir Meciar. This thesis is an attempt to assess that claim. After two introductory chapters, one exploring the terrain of Slovak politics, and the other assessing the utility of applying theories of democratization and political culture, the thesis examines Meciar's role in explaining Slovak development. Employing theories of leadership and decision-making, the role of the former Slovak prime minister is examined in detail. Meciar's position vis-a-vis his own party, HZDS, and the input of other political actors into the decision-making process is evaluated. A central chapter of the thesis explores the formation and functioning of the 1994-8 governing coalition. Utilising comparative coalition theory, the chapter gauges the part played by the two smaller parties, ZRS and SNS, in the 1994-8 government. In order to ascertain the degree of responsibility for Slovakia's political development that deserves to be placed on Meciar's shoulders, the thesis incorporates a consideration of the part played by the institutional framework of politics and Slovak public opinion.