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This timely book surveys political change in postcommunist Europe. It concentrates on the western periphery of the former Soviet empire and covers the countries of four regions: East Central Europe (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary); the Balkans (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, the Third Yugoslavia, Macedonia, and Albania); the Baltic Rim (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia); and Eastern Europe (Belarus and Ukraine).
The book charts the changes in each of these countries. It provides a brief overview of the history and communist legacy of each country, then reviews the new constitutional framework, the principal political parties and their orientation, the direction and scope of economic reform, and the foreign and security policies. Throughout, it evaluates the extent and direction of postcommunist transformation in each country and its prospects for becoming a viable member of the new European order. By its concentration on the actual elements of the emerging political systems and its currency, this is essential reading for students and scholars of Eastern Europe and contemporary international affairs. Patrons of public and school libraries will find it an important resource as well.
List of contents
Preface
Introduction
East Central EuropePoland
The Czech Republic and Slovakia
Hungary
The BalkansRomania
Bulgaria
Yugoslav Successor States and Albania
The Baltic RimLithuania
Latvia
Estonia
East European PeripheryBelarus
Ukraine
Conclusion: Postcommunist Europe in the New European Order
Bibliography
Index
About the author
ANDREW A. MICHTA is Associate Professor and Mertie W. Buckman Chair of International Studies at Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. A specialist in East and Central European politics and security issues, Professor Michta has published extensively, including
East Central Europe After the Warsaw Pact (Greenwood, 1992).
