The New Elite in Post-Communist Eastern Europe

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, a radical metamorphosis took place in Eastern Europe as major power structures were replaced by new systems of power and authority. With new power systems came new types of dominant elites. The New Elite in Post-Communist Eastern Europe studies those elites who have gained control of the political, economic, cultural, and scientific institutions of the new state systems.This study developed from a 1994 conference on the subject attended by scholars, sociologists, representatives from major national and international government organizations, European state leaders, and those considered members of the new elite. Twenty-six of those participants have now contributed their experiences to this book, edited by Vladimir Shlapentokh, Christopher Vanderpool, and Boris Doktorov, resulting in a global effort to define the political and social processes of post-Communist society.

The New Elite in Post-Communist Eastern Europe contains analyses from members of nearly every post-Soviet republic. Many contributors conducted direct sociological research on their issues, which, along with polls and other data sources, provides a strong empirical base for the work.

Eastern Europe is a hotbed of unrest, revolution, and change. Understanding those in power in this region is vital to understanding these countries’ potential impact on global politics, economics, and society. The New Elite in Post-Communist Eastern Europe offers that understanding.