"A useful text and reference book. These essays are at their best in serving both area study and political sociology."---Slavic Review"Wolchik and Curry have assembled an all-star cast of experts for an authoritative assessment of the progress the region has made toward liberal democracy and a market economy in the last two decades. The book's particular strength is to cast the process in terms of a return to Europe. It thus pays attention not only to crucial developments in domestic politics but also to the influence of important international actors. Another exceptionally useful feature is the inclusion of essays that address important issues cross-nationally, as well as in-depth studies of each country individually, making the book especially valuable to students and scholars interested in the politics of the region and those interested in the interaction between domestic issues and global political and economic forces."---Michael Bernhard, Pennsylvania State University"This is a straightforward and lucid overview of the paths taken away from communism by Central and East European states. The authors effectively address the domestic and international influences on the course of political development in the former communist states. The book is highly recommended to anyone who wants a clear picture of a complex and important region and its constituent parts."---Zvi Gitelman, University of MichiganNow in a fully updated edition, this essential text explores the other half of Europe, the new and future members of the EU along with the problems and potential they bring to the region and to the world stage. Clear and comprehensive, it offers an authoritative and up-to-date analysis of the transformations and realities in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and Ukraine. The book presents a set of comparative country case studies as well as thematic chapters on key issues, including European Union and NATO expansion, the economic transition and its social ramifications, the role of women, persistent problems of ethnicity and nationalism, and political reform. New to this edition is a chapter on Albania. For students and specialists alike, this book will be an invaluable resource on the newly democratizing states of Europe. Read Less