Redeeming the Communist Past: The Regeneration of Communist Parties in East Central Europe

by Anna M. Grzymala-Busse

• ISBN13: 9780521001465
• ISBN10: 0521001463
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-18
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This major study examines one of the most surprising developments in East Central European politics after the democratic transitions of 1989: the completely unexpected regeneration of the former communist parties. After the collapse of the communist regimes in 1989, these ruling communist parties seemed consigned to oblivion. However, confounding scholarly and popular expectations, all of these parties survived. Some have even returned to power. This in-depth, comparative study systematically analyzes the trajectories of four cases: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary (with additional examination of other communist party successors). Relying on extensive, and unprecedented, primary research, this analysis employs a consistent analytical framework that combines the peculiarities of the post-socialist cases with broad theoretical concerns of institutional analysis, democratic transitions and consolidation, and party politics.

Author Biography

Anna M. Grzymala-Busse is assistant professor of political science at Yale University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	x
List of Acronyms	xii
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction: Surviving Democracy	1	(18)
The Roots of Regeneration: Communist Practices and Elite Resources	19	(50)
Breaking with the Past, Reorganizing for the Future	69	(54)
Developing Programmatic Responsiveness	123	(52)
Convincing the Voters: Campaigns and Elections	175	(52)
Parliamentary Effectiveness and Coalitions	227	(38)
Conclusion: Succeeding in Democracy	265	(20)
Appendix A: The Content Analysis of Programs	285	(9)
Appendix B: The Quantitative Analysis of Electorates	294	(9)
Appendix C: The Structures of Competition	303	(2)
Bibliography	305	(28)
Index	333