Present at the Transition: An Inside Look at the Role of History, Politics, and Personalities in Post-Communist Countries

Nearly thirty years after the fall of the Soviet Union, debates over paths to market liberalization have produced numerous studies across the social sciences. This groundbreaking work from Oleh Havrylyshyn offers a new perspective. Havrylyshyn, a former official in the post-independence Ukrainian government, provides a unique, primary source account of the people and problems at the heart of economic transitions. Grounded in three decades of data, along with experiential research gleaned from nearly thirty countries, this book contains the most up-to-date assessment of economic transitions in post-communist regions. It critically examines questions of gradual versus radical reforms, the relationship between democracy and market liberalization, and how history, individual personalities, and foreign influence determined political choices. Thorough research and accessible style make this work a valuable resource for students and specialists of economics, political science, and history as well as readers generally interested in international studies, government, and business.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Part I. The Diverse Paths Taken in Transition: 1. Review of key debates at the beginning; 2. Reforms and results of transition: first some facts; Part II. Choice of Strategy: Was it History? Politics? Or People?: 3. Historical legacies: hysteresis vs critical juncture; 4. Reform commitment of political leaders and populations; 5. The role of technocrats; 6. External incentives and pressures; Part III. Domestic Vested Interests and Reforms: 7. The old guard: politicians, technocrats, and red directors; 8. Formation of the oligarchs; 9. Corruption: pervasive, persistent and pernicious; Part IV. Outcomes and Prospects: 11. The transition tapestry: wefts of history, warps-at choice; 12. Quo vadis post-communa?: an epilogue.

About the Author :
Oleh Havrylyshyn is a research professor at the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa. His recent books include The Political Economy of Independent Ukraine (2017) and Institutions Always Mattered: Economic Prosperity of Mediaeval Ragusa-Dubrovnik (2015).

Review :
'Oleh Havrylyshyn, an academic and a former policy maker, provides a fascinating account of the liberalizing transitions of former socialist countries. His unique knowledge allows him to present the basic facts and to unmask popular myths about the post-socialist transformations. He deals in a comparative way both with the economics of transition and with the political economy of this process. Writing clearly and elegantly, Havrylyshyn makes a very important contribution to a very important subject.' Leszek Balcerowicz, Warsaw School of Economics '… the most widely referenced book on this topic.' P. Rutland, Choice