Stanisław Mazur is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Public Policies and Dean of the College of Public Economy and Administration at Cracow University of Economics, Poland.

• Preface Part I: Introduction 1. The Singularity of Central Europe? 2. From Stalinism to Liberal Democracy: A recent history of administration in the V4 countries Part II: Ideational Basis for the Emergence of Institutions and Institutional Reforms 3. How Ideas and Institutions Mutually Affect Each Other 4. The Competition of Ideas and Ideational Disruption 5. The Background, Direction, Ideas, Triggers, and Durability of Public Sector Reforms: A conceptual analysis of the EU28 and the Visegrád 4 Part III: Public Administration Relations with the Environment 6. Politicians and Bureaucrats in Central and Eastern Europe: Governance with increased politicisation 7. Modes of Governance in the Visegrád Countries 8. Between Compliance and Systemic Change: Evaluation practice in eight CEE countries 9. Relations with Interest Groups and Corruption in the V4 Countries 10. Populism in the Visegrád Group Countries Part IV: Management Reforms in Public Administration 11. Public Administration Structures 12. Public Financial Management 13. Local Government in the V4 Countries: Heyday, stability or retreat? Part V: Reconceptualization: The Role of Competition of Ideas in PA Reform 14. Interrupted Progress: Towards an understanding of causes of institutional disruption 15. Institutional Change and Increasing Ambivalence of Reform Effects and Reform Outcomes 16. A Review of Administrative Reforms in the V4 Countries. Afterword

Stanisław Mazur is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Public Policies and Dean of the College of Public Economy and Administration at Cracow University of Economics, Poland.

• Preface Part I: Introduction 1. The Singularity of Central Europe? 2. From Stalinism to Liberal Democracy: A recent history of administration in the V4 countries Part II: Ideational Basis for the Emergence of Institutions and Institutional Reforms 3. How Ideas and Institutions Mutually Affect Each Other 4. The Competition of Ideas and Ideational Disruption 5. The Background, Direction, Ideas, Triggers, and Durability of Public Sector Reforms: A conceptual analysis of the EU28 and the Visegrád 4 Part III: Public Administration Relations with the Environment 6. Politicians and Bureaucrats in Central and Eastern Europe: Governance with increased politicisation 7. Modes of Governance in the Visegrád Countries 8. Between Compliance and Systemic Change: Evaluation practice in eight CEE countries 9. Relations with Interest Groups and Corruption in the V4 Countries 10. Populism in the Visegrád Group Countries Part IV: Management Reforms in Public Administration 11. Public Administration Structures 12. Public Financial Management 13. Local Government in the V4 Countries: Heyday, stability or retreat? Part V: Reconceptualization: The Role of Competition of Ideas in PA Reform 14. Interrupted Progress: Towards an understanding of causes of institutional disruption 15. Institutional Change and Increasing Ambivalence of Reform Effects and Reform Outcomes 16. A Review of Administrative Reforms in the V4 Countries. Afterword

Stanisław Mazur is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Public Policies and Dean of the College of Public Economy and Administration at Cracow University of Economics, Poland.

• Preface Part I: Introduction 1. The Singularity of Central Europe? 2. From Stalinism to Liberal Democracy: A recent history of administration in the V4 countries Part II: Ideational Basis for the Emergence of Institutions and Institutional Reforms 3. How Ideas and Institutions Mutually Affect Each Other 4. The Competition of Ideas and Ideational Disruption 5. The Background, Direction, Ideas, Triggers, and Durability of Public Sector Reforms: A conceptual analysis of the EU28 and the Visegrád 4 Part III: Public Administration Relations with the Environment 6. Politicians and Bureaucrats in Central and Eastern Europe: Governance with increased politicisation 7. Modes of Governance in the Visegrád Countries 8. Between Compliance and Systemic Change: Evaluation practice in eight CEE countries 9. Relations with Interest Groups and Corruption in the V4 Countries 10. Populism in the Visegrád Group Countries Part IV: Management Reforms in Public Administration 11. Public Administration Structures 12. Public Financial Management 13. Local Government in the V4 Countries: Heyday, stability or retreat? Part V: Reconceptualization: The Role of Competition of Ideas in PA Reform 14. Interrupted Progress: Towards an understanding of causes of institutional disruption 15. Institutional Change and Increasing Ambivalence of Reform Effects and Reform Outcomes 16. A Review of Administrative Reforms in the V4 Countries. Afterword