Description
Book SynopsisExamines why privatization was so popular immediately after the fall of communism, and why it has failed in its intended goals of improving the economies of postcommunist countries.
Trade ReviewStudies of the transformation of formerly communist societies often treat the changes as products of technique and faithful emulation of Western policy models. Hilary Appel's provocative and empirically rich book shows that ideas matter in the postcommunist transitions and that, in combination with other factors, they can make the difference between success and failure. - Timothy J. Colton, Harvard University; ""Takes us back to the heady days of the early 1990s when the leaders of socialist-bloc countries set about the transition to capitalism. By bringing ideology and the politics of identity back into the equation, Appel explains why such radical economic programs were so quickly adopted, despite grave misgivings about their economic viability, and why they succeeded in the case of the Czech Republic and failed in the case of Russia. - Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University
