Originally published in 1994, this volume analyses the relationship between political parties and trade unions in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. Political parties had high visibility in the changes that took place in Eastern Europe during the 1980s and early 1990s. Far less visible were the developments in the trade union sphere, where the old 'mass organizations' of the communist period, now independent, were joined by newly-formed organizations, and both played a central role in politics.

The end of communism and accession to the European Union have had a huge impact on Poland. This book provides an overall assessment of the post-1989 transformation in Poland. It focuses in particular on four key themes: economic transformation and its outcomes; the heritage of the past and national identity; regional development in Poland including the implications of EU accession for regional development; and political developments both before and after EU accession. In addition the book shows how changes in all these areas are related, and emphasises the overall common themes. The book is in memory of George Blazyca, of the University of Paisley, whose work on the political economy of transition in Poland is highly regarded, and who did a great deal to support the work of Polish academic colleagues and to promote the work of young scholars.

The end of communism and accession to the European Union have had a huge impact on Poland. This book provides an overall assessment of the post-1989 transformation in Poland. It focuses in particular on four key themes: economic transformation and its outcomes; the heritage of the past and national identity; regional development in Poland including the implications of EU accession for regional development; and political developments both before and after EU accession. In addition the book shows how changes in all these areas are related, and emphasises the overall common themes. The book is in memory of George Blazyca, of the University of Paisley, whose work on the political economy of transition in Poland is highly regarded, and who did a great deal to support the work of Polish academic colleagues and to promote the work of young scholars.

The economic crisis of 2008, starting from the US banking crisis, affected economic and political development in varied ways around the world. This edited volume examines the impact of the crisis on Eastern Europe and Russia, and the resulting policy responses. Taken as a whole, the economies of the former state socialist countries - frequently still referred to as transition economies - were hit hard by the crisis, suffering falls in GDP in 2009 that were deeper than the average around the world. However, there was considerable variety in the effects on individual countries, whilst some continuing to grow, others suffered quite exceptional falls in output. Policy responses were also quite diverse and do not obviously fit with the nature and severity of economic factors. The more general impacts on political life were also varied. In many cases very much the same governments continued in power, while in others there were significant changes and signs of a growing instability in party and political structures. The articles in this book explore these differences between countries and set them in a wider international context. This book was published as a special issue of Europe-Asia Studies.

This book was published in 1989 and was written in the context of a strong impetus for internal reform in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. As Dr Myant shows, economic and political developments have been as entwined in Czechoslovakia as elsewhere in the COMECON network. He presents a detailed account of the development and performance of the Czech economy over a period of forty years, and reveals the problems and tensions created by the chosen system of centralised planning. The study shows clearly that economic change can only be understood in a broader international and political context, and highlights certain crucial formative periods, most notably the early the early 1950s, the early 1960s and, of course, 1968. Dr Myant's conclusion is that any economic reform will have little substance unless accompanied by appropriate political change.

The economic crisis of 2008, starting from the US banking crisis, affected economic and political development in varied ways around the world. This edited volume examines the impact of the crisis on Eastern Europe and Russia, and the resulting policy responses. Taken as a whole, the economies of the former state socialist countries - frequently still referred to as transition economies - were hit hard by the crisis, suffering falls in GDP in 2009 that were deeper than the average around the world. However, there was considerable variety in the effects on individual countries, whilst some continuing to grow, others suffered quite exceptional falls in output. Policy responses were also quite diverse and do not obviously fit with the nature and severity of economic factors. The more general impacts on political life were also varied. In many cases very much the same governments continued in power, while in others there were significant changes and signs of a growing instability in party and political structures. The articles in this book explore these differences between countries and set them in a wider international context. This book was published as a special issue of Europe-Asia Studies.