Post-communist Cleavage.

The book begins with a discussion of Lipset-Rokkan's theory of cleavages and its continuations. The author's interpretation of this theory is applied to a historical context: the communist system that divided society into communist and anti-communist sides. They survived the fall of communism, resulting in the post-communist cleavage. This cleavage manifested itself in social identities, electoral behavior, the shape of the party system and the attitudes of party elites. The problem of generalizing Lipset-Rokkan's theory is considered - its scope and applicability to the various post-communist countries. The problem of persistence is also discussed - the post-communist cleavage was sustained by various factors, but also weakened by the actions and choices made by the party elites.

Autorentext

Miroslawa Grabowska, professor at the Faculty of Sociology of the University of Warsaw, focuses on the sociology of politics and religion. She authored or edited 17 books and over 100 articles. She was visiting scholar at Stanford, IAS, and a visiting professor at the universities of Wisconsin and Mainz.

Inhalt

Lipset-Rokkan's theory of cleavages. The communist system in Central Europe. The post-communist cleavage in Poland after 1989. Its manifestation in electoral behavior, the party system and the attitudes of party elites. The question whether the post-communist cleavage will prove to be durable.