Marjorie Castle is visiting assistant professor of political science at Tulane University and is the author of Triggering Communism's Collapse: Perceptions and Power in Poland's Transition. Ray Taras is professor of political science at Tulane University and his recent books include Understanding Ethnic Conflict: the International Dimension and Going to Our Fathers' Land: Nationalisms, the State, and Beyond. Marjorie Castle is visiting assistant professor of political science at Tulane University and is the author of Triggering Communism's Collapse: Perceptions and Power in Poland's Transition. Ray Taras is professor of political science at Tulane University and his recent books include Understanding Ethnic Conflict: the International Dimension and Going to Our Fathers' Land: Nationalisms, the State, and Beyond.

• Introduction: Understanding a Functioning Democracy , Historic Discontinuities: Shaping Poland's Political Traditions , The Communist Era: The System and Its Crises , Regime Change and Democratization , The Political Players: Elites, Parties, and Other Actors in the Third Republic , The Played Upon: Society , Political and Economic Arenas: The Institutions of the Third Republic , Policy Challenges Shaping Poland's Future

Marjorie Castle is visiting assistant professor of political science at Tulane University and is the author of Triggering Communism's Collapse: Perceptions and Power in Poland's Transition. Ray Taras is professor of political science at Tulane University and his recent books include Understanding Ethnic Conflict: the International Dimension and Going to Our Fathers' Land: Nationalisms, the State, and Beyond. Marjorie Castle is visiting assistant professor of political science at Tulane University and is the author of Triggering Communism's Collapse: Perceptions and Power in Poland's Transition. Ray Taras is professor of political science at Tulane University and his recent books include Understanding Ethnic Conflict: the International Dimension and Going to Our Fathers' Land: Nationalisms, the State, and Beyond.

• Introduction: Understanding a Functioning Democracy , Historic Discontinuities: Shaping Poland's Political Traditions , The Communist Era: The System and Its Crises , Regime Change and Democratization , The Political Players: Elites, Parties, and Other Actors in the Third Republic , The Played Upon: Society , Political and Economic Arenas: The Institutions of the Third Republic , Policy Challenges Shaping Poland's Future