CONTENTS
List of Maps v
Preface vii
Part 1: The Region 1
CHAPTER 1: Miracles and Nightmares 3
The Miracle of 1989 3
The Nightmare of the 1990s 5
The Communist System in Eastern Europe
Economic Changes After 1989 9
Revival of the Ex-Communists 12
Ethnic Violence and Nationalism 13
CHAPTER 2: A Jigsaw Puzzle Map 16
CHAPTER 3: The Peoples: An Ethnic Pressure Cooker 20
Communism and Nationalism 22
Nationalism in the Soviet Union 23
The Breakups of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia 25
Other Ethnic Conflics in the Region 27
Common Outcasts: The Jews and the Gypsies 29
Religious Conflicts 33
National Pride and Symbols 34
Border Changes 35
CHAPTER 4: The Living Past 37
Greek and Roman Times 37
Common Influences and Experiences 40
The Slavs 41
The Bulgars and Magyars 42
Medieval Empires of Eastern Europe 43
CHAPTER 5: 1918-1993: Seventy-Five Years on a Roller Coaster 48
Consequences of World War I
Impact of World War II
Revolutions That Weren't 52
Socialism Versus Communism 56
&#34People's Democracies&#34 57
Voodo Economics 60
Time for a Change 62
CHAPTER 6: From Straitjackets to Jackets--Political Change 64
CHAPTER 7: The Rocky Road to Prosperity--Economic Change 68
CHAPTER 8: The Whirlpool of Social Change 72
Rising Crime 73
Enviromental Mess 74
Setbacks for Women 76
Migration Problem 7
CHAPTER 9: Dangers from the Past 80
Rise of Neo-Fascism 80
CHAPTER 10: Westward, Ho! Eastward, Whoa! 88
Part 2: The Countries 93
CHAPTER 11: Poland 95
Statistical Profile 95
History Before 1918 96
History: 1918-1993 100
Political Development of the 1990s 107
Economy Since 1989 108
CHAPTER 12: The Czech Republic and Slovakia 111
Statistical Profiles 111
Common History Before 1918 114
History of Czechoslovakia: 1918-1993 117
Political Developments of the 1990s 142
Economy Since 1989 144
CHAPTER 14: Romania 146
Statistical Profile 146
History Before 1918 147
History: 1918-1993 151
Political Developments of the 1990s 156
Economy Since 1989 157
CHAPTER 15: Bulgaria 159
Statistical Profile 159
History Before 1918 161
History: 1918-1993 151
Political Developments of the 1990s 166
Economy Since 1989 167
CHAPTER 16: The South Slav Countries--Former Yugoslavia 169
Statistical Profiles 169
History Before 1918 177
History: 1918-1993 183
Political Developments of the 1990s 189
Economy Since 1989 204
Glossary 206
Additional Reading 213
Index 217