Eastern Europe Political Transformation

1989 in context Momentous events: –Fall of the Berlin Wall –collapse or transformation of Communist regimes in east-central Europe Hungary DDR (German Democratic Republic) Poland Czechoslovakia Bulgaria Romania Followed by –Re-unification of Germany, 1990 –break up of the Soviet Union,

Soviet and East European regimes Ostensibly regimes in which a ruling Communist party was overseeing transition from socialism to communism Party-state systems in which –The state owns means of production –Ruling party interpenetrates state apparatus –State plans and directs the economy through 5 year plans

Functions of ruling Communist parties Typically the only legal party: –Restricted membership –Purges – especially in Stalin period Constitutionally the “leading and guiding force” Party is vast bureaucratic structure, paralleling and shadowing state structures -- functions as vast employment agency (nomenklature) –recruiting and socializing loyal members –Deploying them through state apparatus Ideological orthodoxy enforced in varying degrees

The USSR Stalin and Stalinism –Purges and show trials in 1930s –Collectivization of agriculture –Rapid industrialization Following death of Stalin in 1953 –Relaxation of totalitarian features –Denunciation of Stalin at 20 th Party Congress (1956) –Continuation of central planning – but some shift toward consumer goods –Some (limited) space for dissent within an authoritarian party-state

Communism in Eastern Europe Soviet-style systems established after WW II Ruling Communist parties purged Similar attempts at central planning Uprisings and rebellions suppressed –East Germany – 1953 –Hungary – 1956 –Czechoslovakia (“Prague Spring”) 1968

Variations in “Actually Existing Socialism” Hungary –Gradual relaxation following 1956 repression –Managerial autonomy Poland –Inability to establish complete control –Worker’s resistance to price increases –Formation of Solidarity Trade Union in 1981 –Independent position of the Roman Catholic Church Yugoslavia –Wartime partisan movement comes to power – independent of Soviet control from 1948 –Experiments with workplace democracy

More orthodox regimes German Democratic Republic (DDR) –Repression of revolt in 1953 –Construction of Berlin Wall, 1961 –Maintenance of vast spy apparatus – Stasi Czechoslovakia –Strong domestic communist party comes to power after WW II –Repression continues after 1968

Problems in the 1970s and 1980s Limits of central planning –Difficulty of targeting –All thumbs and no fingers Growing problems of corruption: party and the nomenklature as new elite Ability to improve living conditions to a certain extent but not beyond Growing stagnation, especially in the USSR

Reform and transformation in the USSR 1970s – rule by aging gerontocracy Andropov ( ) Gorbachev ( ) –Growing awareness of stagnation –Diminishing ability to compete militarily with West –Attempts to reform the system from within – First, try to discipline the party – tighten up Then, encourage competition within party Loosen grip of party on state Consequences: –Internal turmoil in USSR –Party looses grip on state –USSR loosens grip on Eastern Europe

Transformation in Eastern Europe DDR –Massive demonstrations –Increased exit (via Hungary) –Regime attempts transformation – loses grip and will to repress –opens Berlin Wall Poland –Military had assumed power following 1981 –Cat and mouse game with Solidarity –Negotiated transition in 1989 – with seats guaranteed for Communists

Transformation– cont’d Czechoslovakia –Comes alive in late 1989 –Demonstrations –Regime collapses Hungary –Communist Party surrenders monopoly, permits competition Bulgaria –Elections permitted Romania –Rebellion from within regime