Edited by two leading analysts of post-communist politics, this book brings together distinguished specialists on the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The authors analyze the patterns of postcommunist democratization in these countries, paying particular attention to the process of party formation, electoral politics, the growth of civil society, and the impact of economic reform on the emergence of interest groups. Karen Dawisha and Bruce Parrott contribute theoretical and comparative chapters on postcommunist political development. This book will provide students and scholars with detailed analysis by leading authorities, plus the latest research data on recent political trends in each country.