Central and Eastern Europe:

1. Central and Eastern Europe: Beyond 1989

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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