Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989

by Sabrina P. Ramet (Editor), Christine M. Hassenstab (Editor)

Overview

The collapse of the communist monopoly across Central and Southeastern Europe in 1989/1990 initiated a process of rapid political, economic, and cultural change. While Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia went on to suffer three and a half years of war, all the states of the region have confronted challenges as they dismantled communist institutions and drafted new laws, in some cases ignoring their own laws. Indeed, in certain countries, local politicians have done their best to corrupt the media and the economy, with recent years seeing some states move in an illiberal direction. Throughout the region, however, there has been a strong interest in enjoying the benefits of membership of the European Union and NATO. In this updated second edition, regional specialists comprehensively analyze the post-communist trajectories of the states of Central and Southeastern Europe, encompassing democratization, privatization, corruption, and war. It will appeal to students and scholars, whether they have a specific interest in the region, or are studying European politics more generally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108604123
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/03/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Sabrina P. Ramet is a Professor Emerita of Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. She is the author of fourteen books, including Thinking about Yugoslavia: Scholarly Debates about the Yugoslav Breakup and the Wars in Bosnia and Kosovo (Cambridge, 2005) and The Catholic Church in Polish History: From 966 to the present (2017).
Christine M. Hassenstab is the author of Body Law and the Body of Law: A Comparative Study of Social Norm Inclusion in Norwegian and American Laws (2015), and has co-edited previous titles including (with Sabrina P. Ramet and Ola Listhaug) Building Democracy in the Yugoslav Successor States: Accomplishments, Setbacks, Challenges since 1990 (Cambridge, 2017).

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. The challenge of transformation since 1989: an introduction Sabrina P. Ramet and Christine M. Hassenstab; 2. Post-socialist models of rule in Central and Southeastern Europe Sabrina P. Ramet and F. Peter Wagner; Part II. Issues: 3. Media, journalism, and the third wave of democratization in former Communist countries Peter Gross; 4. Economic reforms and the burdens of transition Karl Kaser; 5. The war of Yugoslav succession Marko Attila Hoare; Part III. Central Europe: 6. Poland since 1989: muddling through, wall to wall Konstanty Gebert; 7. Building democratic values in the Czech Republic since 1989 Carol Skalnik Leff; 8. Slovakia since 1989 Erika Harris and Karen Henderson; 9. Two faces of Hungary: from democratization to democratic backsliding András Bozóki and Eszter Simon; Part IV. Yugoslav Successor States: 10. Slovenia since 1989 Danica Fink-Hafner; 11. Politics in Croatia since 1990 Sabrina P. Ramet and Ivo Goldstein; 12. Serbia and Montenegro since 1989 Sabrina P. Ramet; 13. Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1991 Florian Bieber; 14. Macedonia/North Macedonia since 1989 Zachary T. Irwin; 15. Kosova: from resisting expulsion to building on independence Frances Trix; Part V. Southeastern Europe: 16. Romania: in the shadow of the past Lavinia Stan; 17. Bulgaria since 1989 Maria Spirova and Radostina Sharenkova-Toshkova; 18. Albania since 1989: the Hoxhaist Legacy Bernd J. Fischer; Part VI. Present and Future Challenges: 19. Regional security and regional relations Rick Fawn; 20. The European Union and democratization in Central and Southeastern Europe since 1989 Ulrich Sedelmeier; 21. Conclusion – adapting to the twenty-first century: lessons, progress, and regression Aurel Braun.

Editorial Reviews

‘The second edition of this useful collection of essays provides context for the persistent challenges to what in 1989 was advertised as the ‘transition' of Central and Eastern Europe from Communism to liberal democracy and European integration. Contributors take a sober view of populism and the stubborn corrosive of corruption and provide specific suggestions on how governments, activists, and European institutions might overcome the disorientation that has afflicted them since at least the financial crisis of 2008. It helps the reader understand that ‘progress' is only one of multiple plausible futures for the region.' David Kanin, The Johns Hopkins University

‘This second edition of the Ramet-Hassenstab book is an extraordinary and timely contribution to rethink the long itinerary of post-socialist Europe from the ‘Great Transformation' of 1989 to the current events. Shedding new light to the impact of reforms and societal transformations, this highly recommended book offers an updated and unique analysis of a world under deep transformation, where still corruption, freedom constraints of media, reforms stagnation, and attractive ‘illiberal democracy' perspectives are playing a crucial role within a broader, European context, which is increasingly under growing disorder. Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna, Forlì

‘With the European Union finally taking note of the illiberal trends in some newer members, this updated volume is a timely look at the mixed outcomes from the post-Communist transitions. Bringing together the insights and analyses of noted specialists from North America and Europe, Ramet and Hassenstab have again grappled superbly with understanding the challenges to democratic resilience, economic reform, and regional security in an era of rising populism, Russian resurgence, and fragile institutions.' Robert F. Goeckel, State University of New York, Geneseo

'This book shall be of use and importance to students, analysts and policymakers interested in any country of the region, and in the different experiences of these neighboring countries.' Senada Zatagić, Insight Turkey

'Where this textbook really shines and comes into its own is in the level and depth of analysis undertaken by each author, something that is often not seen in a textbook of this nature. This one serves as an excellent introductory text for students taking their first steps into the history and politics of the region and will probably find itself on many recommended reading lists. At the same time, the book also serves as a useful reference for more knowledgeable readers who want to reacquaint themselves with the region before delving deeper into the literature. All readers will benefit from the strong empirical account of the region’s development accompanied by expert analysis at the theoretical level.’ Jonathan Millins, Europe-Asia Studies

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