This book analyzes the reform of the socialist system in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Uniquely, it adopts a multi-disciplinary perspective which includes authors from both Western Europe and the former Communist world. The volume contains analyses of: the prospects for civil society, economic reform and privatisation, theories of economic transition and the role of the state, political change and the persistence of former Communist parties, the prospects for democracy in the former Soviet Union, and gender aspects of labour market reform.

The collapse of the communist regimes following the dramatic events of 1989-91 astonished the entire world. For many in the west, the 'triumph' of market capitalism was seen as finally ringing the death-knell for the communist movement. West European communist parties, many of which had harboured ambitions of winning significant political influence in the mid-1970s when 'Eurocommunism' was at its height, now found themselves faced with having to respond to a crisis which threatened the very logic of their existence. For some, the only rational response was simply to abandon communism. Others sought to adapt to the new circumstances, whilst a few sought to ignore them altogether. The chapters in this volume analyse the differing reactions of communist parties in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Germany to the challenges posed by the disintegration of the communist empire. Whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent communist 'family' in western Europe. It may be too soon to write communism's obituary.

This is an analysis of the impact of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on the communist parties of Western Europe. Seven case-studies, covering the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, British and German parties, provide a comparative perspective. The conclusion assesses the range of responses to the dramatic events of 1989-91 and the likely future direction of the west-European communist movement. It is argued that, whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent "family" of communist parties, various individual parties - some of them in revised form - may continue to prosper.

A unique bibliographic and historiographic guide to the study of contemporary Italy, this book points to over 650 texts that have shaped the academic and scholarly study of postwar Italy. It is the first guide to include a genuine mix of English-language and Italian-language materials and to approach these materials in a historiographic as well as a bibliographic manner. It is an ideal guide for English, North American, and Italian scholars who have just begun their study of Italy or want to know more about research in areas outside their area of expertise.

Following the introduction, which outlines the context within which the evolution of Italian studies should be viewed, the book is divided into two parts. Part I includes five historiographic chapters providing a detailed survey and analysis of works published in history, politics, government, the economy, and society. Part II is an annotated bibliographic guide to all of the texts pointed to in Part I.

This book analyzes the reform of the socialist system in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Uniquely, it adopts a multi-disciplinary perspective which includes authors from both Western Europe and the former Communist world. The volume contains analyses of: the prospects for civil society, economic reform and privatisation, theories of economic transition and the role of the state, political change and the persistence of former Communist parties, the prospects for democracy in the former Soviet Union, and gender aspects of labour market reform.

This book analyses the impact of the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union on the Communist Parties of Western Europe. Seven case-studies, covering the Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, British and German parties, provide a tightly-argued comparative perspective. The conclusion assesses the range of responses to the dramatic events of 1989-91 and likely future direction of the west European communist movement. It is argued that, whilst it is no longer possible to talk of a coherent 'family' of communist parties, various individual parties - some of them in revised form - may continue to prosper.