Introduction

Abstract

The transition processes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which started more than ten years ago are probably the most comprehensive and difficult change processes of our times. This accounts particularly for the change of the economic system – from a centrally planned towards a market system. Whereas the introduction of the centrally planned economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe during the first half of the twentieth century was based on ideological fundaments which especially Marx and Lenin had laid, practically nobody had ever truly thought about a ‘reversal’ of this development before 1989. Therefore, all Central and Eastern European countries were forced to develop their own transition approach without being able to fall back on a sound theoretical basis or practical experiences. This resulted in a broad spectrum of different transition policies of – so far – varying success in these countries.¹