Escape from arbitrariness: Legitimation crisis of real socialism and the imaginary of modernity

2020 ◽  
pp. 136843102090858
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Świrek ◽  
Pavel Pospech
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Social System ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Social Imaginaries ◽  
East European ◽  
Real Socialism ◽  
Late Socialism

The 1989 revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe and the subsequent transitions have commonly been interpreted in political terms, as movements towards democracy, or in economic terms, as escape from the command economy towards the free market. We revisit the problem to suggest a different reading. We argue that in the legitimization crisis of real socialism, a pivotal role was played by the burden of social oversaturation and bureaucratic arbitrariness, which met its desired alternative in social imaginaries of impersonal, objective social system. For the citizens of Central and East European countries, this fantasy was matched by the promise of the free market, which was morally contrasted to the experience of daily life under late socialism. We argue that this desire to escape from arbitrariness to objectivity is a particularly strong motive in the imaginary of modernity which found one of its historical manifestations in the disappointment with real socialism.

Russia at the Crossroads

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Social System ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
The Political ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Constructive Approach ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Dead End ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Time Of Troubles

THE CURRENT CRISIS IN RUSSIAN SOCIETY HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT of all manner of scholarly investigations, essays and editorials. But the clear economic reverses, distinctly felt by all, have caused analysis to focus almost exclusively on this aspect of the crisis. A more constructive approach to the problem might be to examine it as a process, as an objective result of all aspects of the country's development and contemporary civilization as a whole.This approach presupposes that the rejection of socialism in Russia and Eastern Europe, the major reforms in China and Vietnam, and the dead-end situation in Cuba are not chance, but form a pattern. In each case, the crisis is a function of the transition from one social system to another. This transitional crisis is all-encompassing; its economic component is no more important than the political, social, ethical, cultural, or that of daily life. A transitional crisis is the harbinger of a Time of Troubles when all of society — not just isolated elements — is thrown into turmoil.

scholarly journals Changes of political theories in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Jarosław Nocoń
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Historical Materialism ◽  
International Program ◽  
Political Sciences ◽  
Political Theories ◽  
Real Socialism ◽  
Theoretical Condition

In the countries of Middle and Eastern Europe the collapse of „real socialism” was followed by the annulment of political and ideological supervision over scientific researches. Since then the political theory has been developing in an unembarrassed way, drawing investigative patterns with the tradition of western political sciences. Form this perspective, the expression „westernization” used with regard to political theory signifies the process of going away from Marxism and historical materialism. The article focuses on two essential trends of this process. The main consequence is the pluralization of theoretical bases of investigations, which signifies not only differentation, but also the lack of predominant theory. The international program for monitoring the development since 1990, shows that new investigative trends disclose a division between the traditional and current model of politology, which demonstrates the topicality of arguments raised in western academic debatesover the theoretical condition and status of political science discipline.

The Unexpected Consequences of China’s Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Emilian Kavalski
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Process Tracing ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
East European ◽  
Strategic Narratives ◽  
International Attention ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Economic Reasoning ◽  
Unexpected Consequences

The Central and East European (CEE) region is often overlooked in the conversations on contemporary geopolitics. Yet, owing to China’s growing relations in the CEE countries, the region has been subject to increasing international attention. By process tracing the development of the ‘17 + 1’ mechanism, this article offers a brief overview of Sino-CEE relations. Situated within the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ‘17 + 1’ has provided a unique regional arrangement for extending Chinese influence in the CEE countries. This article explores whether there is something else than the instrumental economic reasoning for the willingness of CEE countries to partner with China. The analysis detects three distinct (and not always complementary) strategic narratives, motivating the participation of CEE states in the ‘17 + 1’ mechanism. The study concludes with an enquiry on China’s preparedness to respond to such identity geopolitics not only in the CEE region but also throughout the vast expanse covered by the BRI initiative.

Eastern Europe: Euro-Skepticism and Right Conservative Trend

2012 ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
S. Biryukov ◽  
A. Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
East European ◽  
European Crisis

The authors study the fate of the Eastern Europe and its possible role in the context of the European crisis, investigate the rise of right-wing conservative forces in the Central and Eastern Europe. In particular, they analyze the role of right-wing parties in the process of transformation of the ideological platform of the East European Euroscepticism.

The League of Polish Families between East and West, past and present

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. de Lange ◽  
Simona Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
European Country ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Radical Right ◽  
Historical Legacy ◽  
East European ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Radical Right Parties ◽  
Historical Legacies

Historical legacies play an important role in the rise of radical right parties in Central and Eastern Europe. This article conducts an in-depth study of the trajectory of a particular radical right party, the League of Polish Families, in a particular Central and East European country, Poland. The central objective of the article is to highlight that, although there are important similarities between the League of Polish Families and other radical right parties in both Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe, the League of Polish Families differs in some respects, such as the composition of electorate and ideology from these parties. The article shows that the observed differences have their roots in the Polish historical legacy, that on some accounts deviates from the historical legacies present in other Central and East European countries.

scholarly journals Industries in Central and Eastern Europe. Enhancing Competitiveness by Integrating Services into Manufacturing

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42
Author(s):  
Sorin Burnete
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Intermediate Inputs ◽  
East European ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Wage Rates ◽  
Final Assembly ◽  
European Economies ◽  
Two Sides

Abstract During the last two decades, the intra-industry trade between western companies and former socialist enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe gradually shifted from the subcontracting of marginal operations such as final assembly to the outsourcing of products and intermediate inputs. To further enhance their competitiveness, firms in Central and Eastern Europe have yet to take one more step forward: integrate services with manufacturing. Developing such capabilities hinges, aside from intensive training and learning on the existence of functional interactive knowledgebased innovation systems. Whereas Central and East European economies exhibit conspicuous weaknesses in this last respect, they still possess a countervailing advantage that is apt to lure foreign investors into the region: lower wage rates relative to western countries across all industries and skill levels. Offshoring therefore seems to be the most appropriate means to reconcile the two sides of the coin.

scholarly journals China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central and Eastern Europe

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-31
Author(s):  
Emilian Kavalski
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
East European ◽  
Strategic Narratives ◽  
History Of ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Economic Reasoning

The Central and East European (CEE) part of the Eurasian landmass is often overlooked in the conversations on contemporary geopolitics. Yet, owing to China’s investment in the CEE countries, the region has been subject to growing strategic attention. This article offers a brief overview of the history of this relationship by focusing on the “16+1” mechanism. Nestled within the broader Belt and Road Initiative, the “16+1” has provided a unique regional arrangement for extending Chinese influence in the sixteen CEE countries. The article inquires whether there is something else than the instrumental economic reasoning for the willingness of CEE countries to partner with China. The analysis detects four distinct (and mutually exclusive) strategic narratives motivating the participation of CEE states in the “16+1” mechanism. The study concludes with an enquiry on China’s preparedness to respond to such identity geopolitics not only in the CEE region, but throughout the vast expanse covered by the BRI initiative.

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