Transition to democracy in Eastern Europe and Russia : impact on politics, economy, and culture /

Wejnert (Cornell Univ.) presents a collection of essays by specialists on Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. The book has four major sections dealing with politics, economy, social problems and policy issues, and culture. Other than Jan Kavan's highly personal account of his experience with lustration in the Czech Republic, the section on politics treats exclusively the transition from communist to postcommunist rule. The section on the economy is concerned with the postcommunist period and is highly informative. Taken in isolation, some of the other essays are very well done; however, there is no consideration of the legacy of precommunist rule as a factor affecting modernization in these societies. Some of the essays are flawed by awkward phrasing and grammar and by inadequate proofreading. More important, this work lacks an overarching definition or concept of transition that would tie together the disparate contributions. Comparable works include Western Approaches to Eastern Europe, ed. by Ivo J. Lederer (1992) and Post-Communism, by Leslie Holmes (CH, Mar'98). For upper-division undergraduates, researchers, and faculty. R. J. Mitchell emeritus, University of New Orleans