Zsuzsa Czergo is professor in the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University. Paula Pickering is associate professor of government at William & Mary.Jennie L. Schulze is Associate Professor of political science and Director of the Center for Migration, Displacement, and Community Studies at Duquesne University, where she teaches courses on comparative politics and international relations.

I have been using the previous editions over the years as the book proved to be remarkable for studying and understanding East and Central European politics and society, its transitional economies, and historical and contemporary challenges. It has been the primary text that I have been assigning in my classes over several years. The scope of the book is comprehensive. Its organization is systematic, straightforward, and consistent.

• Part I: Introduction1 Central and East Europe: Turbulent Histories, Dramatic Transformations, and Twenty-First Century ChallengesZsuzsa Csergo, Paula M. Pickering, and Jennie L. SchulzePart II: Policies and Issues2 Liberal, Fascist, and Communist LegaciesJeffrey Kopstein3 Economic Reforms and TrendsSharon Fisher and John Gould 4 Nationalism and Its Challenges to Democratic GovernanceZsuzsa Csergo and Jason Wittenberg5 Civil Society and Political Parties: Growth and Change in the Organizations Linking People and PowerKevin Deegan-Krause6 Demography and MigrationMichelle Kelso and Daina Eglitis7 Transitional Justice and MemoryVello Pettai and Eva-Clarita Onken Pettai8 Gender RegimesÉva Fodor9 The EU and Its Newer Members: Still The ‘Lands Between’?Ronald H. Linden10 Russia Resurgent: Soft and Hard Power Challenges to SecurityJennie L. SchulzePart III: Case Studies11 PolandJane L. Curry12 The Czech and Slovak RepublicsSharon L. Wolchik13 HungaryOgnen Vangelov and Federigo Argentieri 14 The BalticsDaunis Auers15 BulgariaPetia Kostadinova and Maria Popova16 RomaniaMonica Ciobanu and Mihaela Serban17 AlbaniaArolda Elbasani and Seimir Elbasani18 Former Yugoslavia and Its SuccessorsPaula M. Pickering and Jelena Subotic19 UkrainePaul D’AnieriPart IV: Conclusion20 Changes and Challenges: Three QuestionsZsuzsa Csergo, Paula M. Pickering, and Jennie L. Schulze