Democracy and Civil Society in Eastern Europe

"The book presents an informed and wide-ranging examination of issues surrounding the development and future prospects of civil society in Eastern Europe. The contributions, mostly by leading East European scholars, relate the key concept of civil society to the processes that led to the collapse of communism and which bear on prospects for the establishment of a democratic order throughout the region. The development of the concept is placed in historical and comparative context and subjected to critical scrutiny in the light of recent events in Eastern Europe. The rise of a civil society in Eastern Europe and evaluation of its future prospects is related to questions like those surrounding economic policy and reform, elite formation and leadership recruitment and the nature of the women's movement in the region. The book presents valuable theoretical insights into the dynamics of East European communism and the nature of the post-communist order."--BOOK JACKET.