The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe - Softcover

Howard, Marc Morjé

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521011523 ISBN 13: 9780521011525

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2003

Synopsis

Over a decade has passed since the collapse of communism, yet citizens of post-communist countries are still far less likely to join voluntary organizations than people from other countries and regions of the world. Why do post-communist citizens mistrust and avoid public organizations? What explains this distinctive pattern of weak civil society? And what does it mean for the future of democracy in post-communist Europe? In this engaging study, Marc Morjé Howard addresses these questions by developing a provocative argument about the powerful and enduring impact of the communist experience on its countries and citizens. Howard argues that the legacy of the communist experience of mandatory participation in state-controlled organizations, the development and persistence of vibrant private networks, and the tremendous disappointment with developments since the collapse of communism have left most post-communist citizens with a lasting aversion to public activities. In addition to analyzing data from over 30 democratic and democratizing countries in the World Values Survey, Howard presents extensive and original evidence from his own research in Eastern Germany and Russia, including in-depth interviews with ordinary citizens and an original representative survey.

About this title

Book Description:

This book is a work of political science, in the sub-field of comparative politics, and it also has overlap with the fields of sociology, history, and anthropology. Geographically, it focuses on the countries of post-communist Europe, and it includes in-depth case studies of Eastern Germany and Russia. It also contains a broader cross-national comparison with findings from over 30 countries from around the world.This book examines civil society, or participation in voluntary organizations in a democratic system. The book seeks to explain the distinctive pattern of weak civil society in the countries of post-communist Europe.

From the Publisher:

This book received the 2004 Award for Best Book on European Politics, presented by the Organized Section on European Politics and Society of the American Political Science Association.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0521011523
• ISBN 13: 9780521011525
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 222