Development on the Periphery : Democratic Transitions in Southern and Eastern Europe

Tracing the developments in Southern and Eastern Europe, which has undergone impressive transitions to democracy, experienced vast social changes, and joined the EU and NATO, this study shows that culture, geographic location, and timing do matter. It is for students of Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and transitions to democracy.

In Development on the Periphery, noted scholar Howard J. Wiarda tackles the important question of development in Southern and Eastern Europe. Comparing the two regions gives us insight into the similarities and differences that have united and separated these areas for thousands of years. Both areas have undergone impressive transitions to democracy, experienced vast social changes, embraced open markets, developed Western political party systems, and joined the EU and NATO. However, the differences between the regions, and in particular, their individual countries, show us that development occurs by many routes—and that culture, geographic location, and timing do matter. The transitions to democracy of both Southern and Eastern Europe are among the most encouraging and exciting events of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, and students of the region will benefit from this accessible and thorough comparative study.