Central and Eastern Europe: Beyond 1989

Key questions: What kinds of polities? What kinds of economies? Role in Europe? Role in and impact on the international system?

Transitions to democracy Problems: Privatizing the economy Establishing framework of law for a market economy Establishing an independent civil society - bases for autonomous rather than mobilized or control political participation Channelling political forces Learning to tolerate opposition

Reuniting Germany The rapid collapse of an independent east Reunification in 1990 Via formation of 5 eastern laender (provinces) Conversion of ostmarks at par Collapse and sell-off of the East German economy Trimming of the east German welfare state Different experiences of “Ossies” and “Wessies” Differences in de-nazification Social-market economy vs. socialism

Politics – incorporating the East Problem of tainted connections “colonization” of east by west German parties, politicians & bureaucrats Continuing disparities High unemployment Fewer opportunities at any age level Political differences Initial support for Christian Democrats Continued support for Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) – former Communists

Poland Rapid transformation sell off/privatization of state sector Quick development of market economy Emergence of a large number of political parties Fragmentation on the right following break-up of Solidarity trade union Government from centre-left under former Communists (now reformed) Relatively smooth transition

Hungary Rapid privatization Smooth transition to multiparty politics Split of former Communists Hungarian Socialist Party (reformed ex-communists) as a governing party Split of Civic Forum Well-established pattern of coalition governments

Czechoslovakia Transition in 1989 –Velvet Revolution Slower “Velvet Divorce” Slovak demands for greater autonomy greeted with complete separation Czech Republic – smooth transition to democracy Slovakia Through 1998, autocratic tendencies under Meciar From 1998, movement toward political competition

The former Soviet Union Break-up in 1991 Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) move toward liberal democracy Other states – Russia, Ukraine, Belarus…Georgia, Asiatic Republics end up as semi-democracies or authoritarian Some competition, but opposition forces either restricted or so fluid that they are inchoate – Systems tend to be executive dominated Privatizations create sharp inequalities

The former Yugoslavia Break-up following 1990 Slovenia moves toward liberal democracy Croatia and Serbia attempt to grab territory in Bosnia-Herzegovinia Ethnic cleansing – interventions Gradual stabilization under more, but not completely, democratic regimes

The new Europe: Reincorporation of central Europe within larger Europe: International and trans-national organizations used to incorporate central Europe Admission over time to Council of Europe NATO European Union International organizations used to engage Russia – especially OSCE

Some trends: Reduced threat and mobilization – except on fringes Use of international structures to engage Russia – Shift toward More homogeneous states – but not completely Liberal democracy Internally, greater disparities of wealth