>This volume is a specific contribution to the global dialogue about the transition. The chapters focus on the historically more or less unparalleled changes in the former socialist countries, where democratization has not resulted from an organic process of development, resting on other social and economic changes, but on "socio-political implosions."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Systemic and political change, and economic transformation 1. Criteria and values for assessing the equality of economic systems / Jacques Baudot -- 2. The democratic process and the market : key aspects of the transition in comparative perspective / Mihaly Simai -- 3. Establishment of an independent, neutral civil service in the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe / Gyorgy Jenei -- Case studies 4. Interrelations between political and economic change in Russia and the CIS countries : a comparative analysis / Oleg Bogomolov -- 5. Interactions between political and economic factors in the democratic transformation of Ukraine / Youri M. Matseiko -- 6. The politics of privatization in Croatia : transition in times of war / Ivan Grdesic -- 7. Political and economic factors in the democratic transformation of Slovakia : achievemtns and problems / Jan Morovic -- 8. The changing political system and realities in Hungary / Kalman Kulcsar -- 9. The political economy of democratization in the Polish transition / Janusz Golebiowski -- 10. Issues and experiences in the practice of democratization : models and paradigms / Ivan Vitanyi