Divide and Pacify: Strategic Social Policies and Political Protests in Post-Communist Democracies

The Central and Eastern European transitions from communism to market democracy in the 1990s were remarkably peaceful due to the strategic use of welfare state programs to prevent massive strikes and protests. This book proposes a new explanation for this unexpected political quiescence, showing how reforming governments in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic used social policies to prevent job losses and split up highly aggrieved groups of workers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Central European University Press

Despite dramatic increases in poverty, unemployment, and social inequalities, the Central and Eastern European transitions from communism to market democracy in the 1990s have been remarkably peaceful. This book proposes a new explanation for this unexpected political quiescence. It shows how reforming governments in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have been able to prevent massive waves of strikes and protests by the strategic use of welfare state programs such as pensions and unemployment benefits.

Divide and Pacify explains how social policies were used to prevent massive job losses with softening labor market policies, or to split up highly aggrieved groups of workers in precarious jobs by sending some of them onto unemployment benefits and many others onto early retirement and disability pensions. From a narrow economic viewpoint, these policies often appeared to be immensely costly or irresponsibly populist. Yet a more inclusive social-scientific perspective can shed new light on these seemingly irrational policies by pointing to deeper political motives and wider sociological consequences.

The book begins by examining the historical context of the transitions, which were characterized by a combination of political instability, economic crisis, and social unrest. It then explores the role of social policies in shaping the political landscape during the transition period. The authors argue that social policies played a crucial role in preventing widespread unrest by providing a safety net for workers and reducing the risk of social exclusion.

One of the key strategies used by reforming governments was to introduce welfare state programs such as pensions and unemployment benefits. These programs provided a financial cushion for workers who were losing their jobs, and they helped to reduce the level of social inequality. However, the authors argue that these programs were also used to divide and pacify workers. By sending some workers onto unemployment benefits and others onto early retirement and disability pensions, governments were able to create a two-tiered labor market that favored certain groups of workers over others.

The authors also argue that social policies were used to soften the labor market policies that were implemented during the transition period. For example, governments introduced flexible labor market policies such as part-time work and temporary contracts, which allowed workers to adjust to the changing economic conditions. However, these policies were also used to reduce the level of job security and to increase the level of job insecurity.

The book also examines the impact of social policies on social cohesion and political stability. The authors argue that social policies played a crucial role in promoting social cohesion by providing a sense of belonging and identity to workers. However, they also argue that social policies can be divisive and can lead to social unrest if they are not implemented properly.

The book concludes by arguing that social policies played a crucial role in the peaceful transitions from communism to market democracy in the 1990s. However, the authors also argue that social policies need to be more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of workers in order to prevent widespread unrest in the future. The authors suggest that governments should invest more in social policies that promote social cohesion and that they should be more transparent and accountable in their use of public funds.

In conclusion, Divide and Pacify provides a new explanation for the unexpected political quiescence of the Central and Eastern European transitions from communism to market democracy in the 1990s. It shows how social policies were used to prevent massive waves of strikes and protests by the strategic use of welfare state programs such as pensions and unemployment benefits. The book also argues that social policies need to be more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of workers in order to prevent widespread unrest in the future.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789633866993