Political, social, and economic transformation is a complex historical phenomenon. It can be adequately analysed only by a multidisciplinary approach. This Handbook brings together an international team of scholars who are specialists in their respective research fields. They introduce the most important areas, theories, and methods in transformation research. Most attention is placed on the historical and comparative dimension. Although focusing on postcommunist and other democratic transformations in our epoch, the Handbook therefore presents and discusses not only their problems, paths, and developments, it also deals with the antecedent ‘waves’, beginning with the Meiji Restoration in Japan in 1868 and its aftermath. The book is structured into six layers. Starting with basic concepts as systems, actors, and institutions (Section I), it then gives an overview of the major theoretical approaches and research methods (Sections II, III). The connection of theory and method with their application is essential. It allows special insights into the past and opens analytical avenues for transformation research in the future. Section IV then provides a historically oriented description and interpretation of particular ‘waves’ or types of societal transformation. With a clear focus on present transformations, the chapters in Section V provide a description and discussion of the problems, structures, actors, and courses of the transformations within different spheres of (civil) society, politics, law, and economics. Finally, the brief lexicographic chapters in Section VI delineate facts about particular relevant issues of societal transformation. Each of the chapters contains a concise list of the most important research literature.
The Past, Present and Future of Law and Economics