Trajectories of post-communist transformation: Myths and rival theories about change in Central and Southeastern Europe

The author examines the post-communist trajectories of Central and Southeastern Europe, arguing that the collapse of communism was foreseeable and constituted a comprehensive revolution. The text analyzes debates over whether the process was a 'transition' or 'transformation' and identifies key determinants of democratic consolidation, such as the absence of war, the role of the European Union, and educational attainment. It specifically refutes the 'ancient hatreds' myth regarding the Yugoslav meltdown, attributing the conflict instead to system illegitimacy, economic decay, and the agency of leaders like Slobodan Milošević.

• The claim that the collapse of communism was unforeseen is a myth; several scholars provided concrete predictions of instability and collapse between 1980 and 1989, including Ernst Kux, George Schöpflin, and Francis Fukuyama.
• The author rejects the myth that the 1989 events were not revolutionary, arguing that revolution should be defined as a process of fundamental change in political, social, and economic structures rather than solely by the presence of violence.
• The author distinguishes between 'transition' (a passage from one state to another) and 'transformation' (the process of change itself), arguing that the region underwent a transition that necessarily involved transformation.
• Democratic consolidation in the region is proposed to be measured by four criteria: a Transparency International corruption score of 4.0 or better, a stabilized number of major political parties (two or three), an educational system promoting liberal values, and stabilized electoral laws.
• The success of democratization varied across the region; the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia are ranked highest in democratic consolidation and corruption measures, while Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo face more serious challenges.
• The author identifies a correlation between higher educational investment/attainment and more successful democratic consolidation, noting that Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia rank high in both, while Albania and Macedonia rank low in both.
• The 'ancient hatreds' theory used to explain the Yugoslav meltdown is dismissed as a myth that provided an excuse for Western inaction; the conflict is instead attributed to system illegitimacy, economic deterioration, the ethnically based federal system, and the agency of Slobodan Milošević.
• The author argues that the European Union's acquis communautaire and the goal of EU membership served as significant drivers and signifiers of completed economic and political transition for many post-communist states.

APA

Ramet, S. P. (n.d.). Trajectories of post-communist transformation: Myths and rival theories about change in Central and Southeastern Europe. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/423bb8ea-88fa-455b-ad42-ae54c2f24c30/Trajectories of Post-Communist Transformation Myths and Rival Theories about Change in Central and Southeastern Europe.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Ramet, Sabrina P. Trajectories of post-communist transformation: Myths and rival theories about change in Central and Southeastern Europe. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/423bb8ea-88fa-455b-ad42-ae54c2f24c30/Trajectories of Post-Communist Transformation Myths and Rival Theories about Change in Central and Southeastern Europe.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ramet |first1=Sabrina P. |title=Trajectories of post-communist transformation: Myths and rival theories about change in Central and Southeastern Europe |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/423bb8ea-88fa-455b-ad42-ae54c2f24c30/Trajectories of Post-Communist Transformation Myths and Rival Theories about Change in Central and Southeastern Europe.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rametndtrajectories, author = {Ramet, Sabrina P.}, title = {{Trajectories of post-communist transformation: Myths and rival theories about change in Central and Southeastern Europe}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/423bb8ea-88fa-455b-ad42-ae54c2f24c30/Trajectories of Post-Communist Transformation Myths and Rival Theories about Change in Central and Southeastern Europe.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }