Taking Stock of Shock: Social Consequences of the 1989 Revolutions

Kristen Ghodsee and Mitchell A. Orenstein's book "Taking Stock of Shock" investigates the social consequences of post-communist transition, including the rise of authoritarian populism and xenophobia. They find that economic, demographic, sociological, political scientific, and ethnographic research produce contradictory results, but both the J-curve model and the disaster capitalism perspective have significant basis in fact. The book concludes that the promise of transition remains elusive for many and offers policy ideas for overcoming negative social and political consequences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a significant transition occurred, leading to the emergence of liberal democracy and free markets in over 400 million people's lives. Thirty years later, post-socialist citizens remain divided on the legacy of this transition. Was it a success that brought about great progress after a short recession, or a socio-economic catastrophe imposed by Western capitalists on the East? In their book, "Taking Stock of Shock," Kristen Ghodsee and Mitchell A. Orenstein aim to uncover the truth through a unique interdisciplinary investigation into the social consequences of transition. They demonstrate that economic, demographic, sociological, political scientific, and ethnographic research yield contradictory results based on different disciplinary methods and data. To triangulate the findings, Ghodsee and Orenstein employ a multi-method approach, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights. They find that both the J-curve model, which anticipates sustained growth after a sharp downturn, and the disaster capitalism perspective, which posits that neoliberalism led to devastating outcomes, have significant basis in fact. While substantial percentages of the populations across various post-socialist countries experienced remarkable success, prosperity, and progress, many others faced an unprecedented socio-economic catastrophe. Ghodsee and Orenstein conclude that the promise of transition remains elusive for many and offer policy ideas for overcoming negative social and political consequences.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, a significant transition occurred, leading to the emergence of liberal democracy and free markets in over 400 million people's lives. Thirty years later, post-socialist citizens remain divided on the legacy of this transition. Was it a success that brought about great progress after a short recession, or a socio-economic catastrophe imposed by Western capitalists on the East? In their book, "Taking Stock of Shock," Kristen Ghodsee and Mitchell A. Orenstein aim to uncover the truth through a unique interdisciplinary investigation into the social consequences of transition. They demonstrate that economic, demographic, sociological, political scientific, and ethnographic research yield contradictory results based on different disciplinary methods and data. To triangulate the findings, Ghodsee and Orenstein employ a multi-method approach, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights. They find that both the J-curve model, which anticipates sustained growth after a sharp downturn, and the disaster capitalism perspective, which posits that neoliberalism led to devastating outcomes, have significant basis in fact. While substantial percentages of the populations across various post-socialist countries experienced remarkable success, prosperity, and progress, many others faced an unprecedented socio-economic catastrophe. Ghodsee and Orenstein conclude that the promise of transition remains elusive for many and offer policy ideas for overcoming negative social and political consequences.

Weight: 448g
Dimension: 231 x 321 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197549247