Abstract
The fuzzy methods for determining associations between variables that have been proposed for use in the social sciences (see Ragin 2000, Smithson and Verkulien 2006) are measures of subsethood. Using these measures with social science data has proven to be problematic. This paper examines the use of fuzzy subsethood and fuzzy equality operators as tools for assessing factors hpothesized to be associated with successful democratic consolition in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.