Reflections on 1989 in Eastern Europe

This book presents a selection of recent research on the events and developments of 1989 in Eastern Europe. It offers a mix of detailed examinations of the events of 1989 in Eastern Europe, thoughtful and considered appraisals of developments, and ‘middle-range’ theoretical discussions of patterns of cause and effect. The authors range in their approaches from detailed examinations of government and ruling-party papers from the archives, some of it originally labelled top secret, to personal observations and oral history based on interviews with participants, to analysis of survey data and official statistics. In their chosen focus the essays range from explorations of the emerging crisis in the communist regimes that led to the events of 1989, reflections and insights into the events and changing mood during 1989 itself, and examinations of some of the consequences and legacies of 1989.

This book was published as a special issue of Europe-Asia Studies.

Terry Cox is Professor of Central and East European Studies at the University of Glasgow, and Editor of the journal Europe-Asia Studies. His recent research has focused on the politics and sociology of post-communist transformations in East Central Europe, including work on civil society and the politics of interest representation.