Eastern European Capitalism in the Making
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: September 9, 2002
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 238
ISBN-13: 9780521813143
Subjects: European studies; Political economy; Public Policy - General; International Relations - General; Economic Conditions; Political Science; Business / Economics / Finance; Public Policy - Economic Policy; Politics/International Relations; Eastern Europe; General; Political Science / General; Capitalism; Social conflict; 1989-; Europe, Eastern; Post-communism
First sentence: With the collapse of state socialism in 1989, the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe initiated dramatic changes in their political and economic settings and state-society relations, in an attempt to claim a new place in a world characterized by globalization and increased regional integration within three economic blocs: the United States, Europe, and Japan/Asia.
Description: "This book examines the relationship between governments, labor, and business in central and Eastern Europe as capitalism develops. The tripartite forums for social dialogue in Bulgaria and Poland are described as "tripartism," a new postcommunist species of state-society interaction and a brand of capitalism distinct from American neoliberalism, Western European neocorporatism, and Japanese statism.

These forums are understood as institutionalizing of conflict among postcommunist social actors in the industrial arena and consist of three specific elements: political negotiations, civic participation, and multilevel bargaining. The emergence and development of postcommunist tripartism are significantly shaped by the twin domestic necessities to preserve social peace and legitimate and consolidate the social actors.

The book explains variations in the establishment and functioning of tripartite institutions across Central and Eastern European countries, industries, and regions, with corporatist legacies and legacies of extrication paths from state socialism, on the one hand, and, on the other, with social partners' strategic commitment to concerted action.

Integration into the international economy and polity, especially European integration, has somewhat diminished differences and, in the long run, is helping to preserve and maintain social dialogue structures in the Central and Eastern European region."--BOOK JACKET.