Hans-Jürgen Wagener - Böcker

Political, social, and economic transformation is a complex historical phenomenon. It can adequately be analysed only by a multidisciplinary approach. The Handbook brings together an international team of scholars who are specialists in their respective research fields. It introduces the most important areas, theories, and methods in transformation research, with particular attention placed on the historical and comparative dimension. Although focussing on post-communist and other democratic transformations in our epoch, the Handbook therefore presents and discusses not only their problems, paths, and developments, but also deals with the antecedent 'waves', beginning with the Meiji Restoration in Japan in 1868 and its aftermath.The book is structured into six parts. Starting with basic concepts as systems, actors, and institutions (Section I), it gives an overview over major theoretical approaches and research methods (Sections II and III). The connection of theory and method with their application is essential, allowing special insights into the past and opens analytical avenues for transformation research in the future. Section (IV) provides a historically oriented description or interpretation of particular 'waves' or types of societal transformation. With a clear focus on present transformations, the contributions to Section V provide a description and discussion of the problems, structures, actors, and courses of the transformations within different spheres of (civil) society, politics, law, and economics. Finally, brief lexicographic entries in Section VI delineate research perspectives and facts about relevant issues of societal transformation. Each of the 79 contributions contains a concise list of the most important research literature.

It is now almost a decade since central and east Europe saw the demise of the Soviet-style economic planning which accompanied more ot less authoritarian political rule by communist parties. The economic thought, based on Marxist philosophy, which formed theoretical underpinning of centrally planned socialist economies, was peculiar to the region, and was radically different from mainstream western thought. Written by leading east European scholars, this volume provides a comprehensive and authoritative resource: a wide-ranging overview of fifty years of economic thinking under communist rule in Europe and during the first phase of post-communist transformation. It also provides an analytical assessment of the impact of economic science on the reform and transition process. The book includes six country-specific studies, for Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Eastern Germany and Yugoslavi. Each one surveys the relevant literature and its interaction with the development of the socialist and post-socialist economic system in the period 1945-1996. The studies show that, despite Soviet dominance and the shared Marxist paradigm, development of economic thought was not uniform, a finding which supports the hypothesis formulated in the introductory chapter that differences in system critique and reform thinking can explain later differences in transformational performance. Laszalo Csaba, Budapest University of Economics, Hungary; Vladimir Gligorov, Vienna Institute for Comparative Economic Studies, Austria; Jiri Havel, Prague High School of Economic

It is now almost a decade since central and east Europe saw the demise of the Soviet-style economic planning which accompanied more ot less authoritarian political rule by communist parties. The economic thought, based on Marxist philosophy, which formed theoretical underpinning of centrally planned socialist economies, was peculiar to the region, and was radically different from mainstream western thought. Written by leading east European scholars, this volume provides a comprehensive and authoritative resource: a wide-ranging overview of fifty years of economic thinking under communist rule in Europe and during the first phase of post-communist transformation. It also provides an analytical assessment of the impact of economic science on the reform and transition process. The book includes six country-specific studies, for Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Eastern Germany and Yugoslavi. Each one surveys the relevant literature and its interaction with the development of the socialist and post-socialist economic system in the period 1945-1996. The studies show that, despite Soviet dominance and the shared Marxist paradigm, development of economic thought was not uniform, a finding which supports the hypothesis formulated in the introductory chapter that differences in system critique and reform thinking can explain later differences in transformational performance. Laszalo Csaba, Budapest University of Economics, Hungary; Vladimir Gligorov, Vienna Institute for Comparative Economic Studies, Austria; Jiri Havel, Prague High School of Economic

Constitutional political economy applies an economic approach to the analysis of constitutional choice. Initially, research clearly leaned towards legitimizing the state and its actions. However, the transitions taking place in Central and Eastern Europe have made apparent the necessity to improve our knowledge of the working properties of alternative constitutional rules, thus stressing the importance of positive analysis. The authors analyse both the opportunities and dangers of importing constitutions from around the world into this area.The papers assembled in this volume deal with the question of what individual transition processes have taught us in terms of constitution-building. The book contains analyses of post 1989 constitutional developments in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe from the perspectives of varied disciplines; including academics, politicians and the judiciary.Constitutions, Markets and Law will be welcomed by scholars of transition studies and political economists as well as practitioners of, and academics with an interest in, constitutional law.

This open access book examines how different economic systems impacted the development of East Germany and Poland. Through comparing these countries while they were centrally planned socialist economies with the periods when they transitioned to capitalism, the inability of socialist economies to modernize effectively and produce sustained economic growth is highlighted. Particular attention is given the role of technological progress in economic growth, peculiar institutions, the creation and transfer of knowledge, and post-socialist transformations.The book presents a detailed analysis of the barriers to modernization and growth implied by Soviet-type state socialism and the differences and similarities between the transition of East Germany and Poland to capitalist market economies. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in comparative systems and the political economy.

This open access book examines how different economic systems impacted the development of East Germany and Poland. Through comparing these countries while they were centrally planned socialist economies with the periods when they transitioned to capitalism, the inability of socialist economies to modernize effectively and produce sustained economic growth is highlighted. Particular attention is given the role of technological progress in economic growth, peculiar institutions, the creation and transfer of knowledge, and post-socialist transformations.The book presents a detailed analysis of the barriers to modernization and growth implied by Soviet-type state socialism and the differences and similarities between the transition of East Germany and Poland to capitalist market economies. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in comparative systems and the political economy.

Die in den vergangenen Jahren stark gewachsenen Europa-Studien unterscheiden sich von der EU-Integrationswissenschaft. Europa-Studien beschäftigen sich stärker mit historischen und kulturellen Kontexten, und sie setzen sich mit der politischen, rechtlichen und wirtschaftlichen Integration nicht allein auf der EU-Ebene auseinander. Das Zusammenwachsen Europas hat viele Facetten, deswegen haben Europa-Studien einen multidisziplinären Anspruch. Dieses Buch nähert sich dem Phänomen der Integration Europas auf fünf Ebenen: Kultur, Politik, Recht, Wirtschaft, Integration. Konzipiert ist der Band als Einführung und Einstieg in die Vielgestaltigkeit der wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzung mit Europa.

Der Band faßt die Beiträge zu einem Symposion zusammen, das die Europa-Universität Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) zu Ehren ihres ehemaligen Rektors Hans N. Weiler veranstaltet hat. Behandelt werden die zentralen Fragen einer möglichen Reform der Universitäten, wie sie zur Zeit die Diskussion bestimmen.

Es folgen prominente Forschungsansätze unter anderem aus der Modernisierungstheorie, dem Strukturalismus, dem Historischen Institutionalismus, der Entwicklungsökonomik und der Politischen Ökonomie.

​Die DDR und Polen haben von 1945 bis 1989 versucht, das kollektivistische Modernisierungsprojekt zu verwirklichen – den real existierenden Sozialismus. Das Buch vergleicht die unterschiedliche Entwicklung der systemtheoretischen und wirtschaftspolitischen Ideen in beiden Ländern. Trotz einer identischen Grundordnung mit Staatseigentum und Zentralplanung entfalteten die ostdeutschen und polnischen Ökonomen eigene Vorstellungen. Dabei waren die Spielräume durch den politischen und ideologischen Einfluss der sowjetischen Führungsmacht beschränkt. Darin ist eine der entscheidenden Barrieren für eine erfolgreiche Modernisierung zu sehen. Die Ordnungspolitik erwies sich am Ende als unfähig, das System an die Anforderungen der Moderne anzupassen und zu reformieren.Die Entwicklung des ökonomischen Denkens zweier sozialistischer Länder wird in ihrem historischen, politischen und institutionellen Kontext dargestellt und richtet sich somit an Geschichts-, Wirtschafts- und Politikwissenschafter*innen gleichermaßen.

The book's central task is to look into the possibility of explaining theoretically the phenomenon of systemic change which we are observing right now in Central and Eastern Eu- rope. The process of transformation has economic, social, political, cultural and historical implications and is con- ditioned by all these factors. Hence, no uniform and consi- stent explanation is available presently. We may expect this to become one of the growth fields of future research. The 12 authors of the book - among others B. Blankart, L Csaba, N. Kloten, P. Pelikan, Fr. Schneider, P.P.J. Welfens - look at the transformation process from different theore- tical angles. So the reader will get acquainted with the true complexity of the phenomenon. Abstaining from direct policy advice and ready-made solutions, the book discusses some of the more fundamental problems of institutional chan- ge and transformation policy. So the book can also be used as assignment for courses on this subject.

An analysis of the political and economic implications of system transformation as experienced in Central and Eastern Europe and China. Key topics discussed include the policy aspects of privatization, industrial restructuring and the adjustment of fiscal systems and policies.