Meandering in Transition: Thirty Years of Reforms and Identity in Post-Communist Europe

The book "Post-Communist Transition in Central Eastern Europe" explores the dynamics of the post-Communist transition in Central Eastern Europe, focusing on identity-building processes, reforms, and geopolitical affiliations. It examines why some states achieved a decisive break with the Communist past and joined European and transatlantic structures, while others opted for pseudo-transitions and fostered hybrid political regimes. The collection also highlights the evolving perceptions of the region by global actors.

Format: Hardback
Length: 422 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

This edited collection delves into the intricate dynamics of the post-Communist transition in Central Eastern Europe, offering a comprehensive analysis of the events that have unfolded over the past three decades. The contributors provide a detailed examination of identity-building processes and reforms in a diverse range of countries, including Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

The contributors explore the reasons why certain states successfully broke free from the Communist past and integrated into European and transatlantic structures, while others pursued pseudo-transitions and created hybrid political regimes, jeopardizing their genuine alignment with the West. They also shed light on the group of states that chose to preserve their Communist legacy.

The collection provides a rich description and critical scrutiny of the formation of geopolitical affiliations and the evolution of discourses of belonging within the post-Communist region. It also tracks the shifting dynamics of national decision-making and institution-building, as many of these states reevaluate and redefine their initial ideas and visions of Europe in the present day.

Furthermore, the collection highlights the rapidly changing perceptions of the region by major global actors, such as the European Union, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation. By examining these diverse perspectives, the collection offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex and multifaceted post-Communist transition in Central Eastern Europe.

Weight: 835g
Dimension: 228 x 162 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793650740