Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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Ever relevant, 13 Jan 2003
Albeit too slow, not least in the minds of the populations concerned, the process of democratic transition in South-East Europe has indeed gone far beyond the stages to which this book brings us. Thus, reviewing the book some 6 years down the road, its most obvious weakness seems to be that it has long been overtaken by events and developments in the region. However, to brand it outdated would not only be unfair, it would be a mistake. Attempting to answer a variety of questions within three main themes (1: factors influencing the formation of political groups and parties, 2: the political evolution of society, and 3: political parties and the party system), the book remains a vivid, perspicacious and ever relevant account and discussion of the most crucial period of the recent political history of the countries concerned. Although lacking a consistent comparative approach, the common research guidelines on which the respective country-contributions are based (even if not entirely adhered to), leaves identifying similarities and peculiarities an easy job for any reader. The editors own contributions (perspectives, research concepts and methodologies), add to and consummate the applicability and value of this work. Bottom line: highly recommended for anyone interested not just in the quirks of democratic transition in South-East Europe, but also in the more general contemporary history of the region. However needless to add, the book can no longer stand alone but should as a minimum be supplemented with more recent surveys on the topic.
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Ever relevant, 13 Jan 2003
Albeit too slow, not least in the minds of the populations concerned, the process of democratic transition in South-East Europe has generally gone far beyond the stages to which this book brings us. Thus, reviewing the book some 6 years down the road, its most obvious weakness seems to be that it has long been overtaken by events and developments in the region. However, to brand it outdated would not only be unfair, it would be a mistake. Attempting to answer a variety of questions within three main themes (1: factors influencing the formation of political groups and parties, 2: the political evolution of society, and 3: political parties and the party system), the book remains a vivid, perspicacious and ever relevant account and discussion of the most crucial period of the recent political history of the countries concerned. Although lacking a consistent comparative approach, the common research guidelines on which the respective country-contributions are based (even if not entirely adhered to), leaves identifying similarities and peculiarities an easy job for any reader. The editors own contributions (perspectives, research concepts and methodologies) add to - and consummate the applicability and value of the work. Bottom line: highly recommended for anyone interested not just in the quirks of democratic transition in South-East Europe, but also in the more general contemporary history of the region. However needless to add, the book can no longer stand alone but should (as a minimum) be supplemented with more recent surveys on the topic.
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Extract from Books on Bosnia, London 1999, 13 Mar 2000
By A Customer
Almost half of this serious academic collection, with its copious tables and footnotes, is devoted to the former Yugoslavia, with informative if uneven essays by Lenard Cohen (a particularly judicious text on 'postcommunist Croatia in transition' ); Steven Burg ( 'Bosnia-Herzegovina: a case of failed democratization' - an oddly constructed but useful contribution that, as it were, proceeds backwards from an inappropriate title to the right conclusion that the country never had a chance to democratize, since it was attacked first); Nicholas Miller ('A failed transition: the case of Serbia' - a well-documented account, correctly identifying the impasse into which the Milosevic regime has led the country and the need for a 'complete transformation of political culture'): Sabrina Ramet (a characteristically challenging and well-sourced text on 'Democratization in Slovenia'); and Duncan Perry (well-informed on 'Macedonia: finding its way', but insufficiently aware of the unviability of a Macedonia that does not accord its minorities, above its large Albanian minority, very concrete and substantial national rights).
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(3 customer reviews)
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