Communism and the Emergence of Democracy

Zusammenfassung Harald Wydra argues that much of the literature on the democratisation of former communist countries has neglected the history of communism in its analysis of transformation processes. He suggests that the nature of post-communist democracy cannot be properly understood without reference to the emergence and crisis of communism.

Texte du rabat

This book connects the study of democratisation to the emergence and crisis of communism.

Contenu

1. Communism and democracy - a problematisation; Part I. The Experiential Basis of Communism and Democracy: 2. Revolutions, transitions, and uncertainty; 3. The political symbolism of communism; 4. Experiencing democratic transformations; Part II. Critical Events and their Symbolisations: 5. The rise of Bolshevik power; 6. The emergence of the Cold War; 7. The articulation of dissidence; 8. The collapse of communism; Part III. Democracy as a Process of Meaning-Formation: 9. The power of memory; 10. The future that failed; 11. Democracy as a civilising process.