Utilising a wide range of empirical cases, the contributions in this edited volume highlight the different aspects of the role, development and societal background of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. The first part of the book deals with dissent under socialism. The second part of the book looks at the role of civil society in the Western Balkans in the context of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia and the related ethnic conflicts. The third part goes on to examine the role of civil society in the post-Soviet region, which is marked by authoritarian tendencies. The fourth part returns to Central Eastern Europe with an analysis of the impact of EU accession on the role of civil society and considers the underlying aspects of a 'common European memory'. The final section of the book looks at two cases - one from Central Eastern Europe, one from the CIS region -- of political participation and lobbying by civil society organisations. This book presents a selection of the papers diskussed at the Changing Europe Summer School on 'Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe' held at the National University of 'Kyiv-Mohyla Academy' (NAUKMA), Ukraine, in July 2009.

This book examines the integration of major trade unions from the six biggest countries of EU's Eastern enlargement into EU governance structures. Based on extensive empirical research, including more than 150 in-depth interviews, statistical data collection, document research, and eight detailed case studies, the contributions describe the activities and perceptions of the trade unions under investigation and the different levels of engagement, including European umbrella organizations, interregional cooperation, and European Works Councils. The book thus contributes to political science research on interest representation and Europeanization as well as sociological research on labor relations.

Der Band prasentiert Diagnosen und die Strategien, wie sie gegenwartig von den jungeren Vertretern der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung diskutiert werden. Dabei ergeben sich unterschiedliche inhaltliche Kontroversen: Handelt es sich bei den so genannten neuen Kriegen tatsachlich um neue Phanomene? Die Antwort auf diese und viele andere Fragen fallen ebenso wie bereits bei der Grundergeneration der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung kontrovers aus. Der Band macht generationsspezifische Schwerpunkte der Themenwahl und Fragestellungen deutlich. Er demonstriert damit anschaulich, dass der Ausdifferenzierung von Problemfeldern und Wissenschaftslandschaft zum Trotz die Friedens- und Konfliktforschung mehr als nur das Projekt einer Generation ist.

The end of socialism posed a historical challenge to European societies. The former socialist Central and East European countries were faced with what has been called a "triple transformation" Mutually dependent changes in the political, economic, and social spheres. At the same time, the old EU member states had to develop strategies to react to these developments and integrate former socialist societies.This post-socialist transformation of Europe coincided with a number of broader trends in the political, economic, and social spheres which are often collectively referred to as globalisation. Success or failure to adapt to these changes creates winners and losers. The focus of this edited volume is on various groups of "losers" and the challenges they face as a result of their marginalisation.This book presents the results of the Changing Europe Summer School on "Justice as a societal and political matter. Equality, social and legal security as conditions for democracy and the market" that took place in Berlin in July 2006. The Summer School brought together more than 30 young scholars from all over the world who work on issues related to Central and Eastern European societies and the enlarged EU.