Edward Elgar Publishing Poland into the New Millennium (Economies and Societies in Transition series)

It is a widely held belief that the Polish experience of system transformation following the final collapse of ‘real socialism’ in 1989 is one of the ‘best’. Poland into the New Millennium surveys the country’s post-communist transformation as it prepares for the challenges of the early years of the new century. The contributors describe key aspects of system transformation in order to promote better understanding of the nature of the processes introduced to the economy and society since 1989. The book seeks to illustrate what has been achieved – and what has not – and tentatively explores likely future developments in relation to the problems that may lie ahead. Entry into the European Union figures as a major issue, but the volume contains sometimes controversial and divergent interpretations of the underlying dynamic shaping Polish society in the new millennium. This comprehensive and multidisciplinary book will be invaluable to researchers, lecturers and students concerned with post-communist transformation across the social sciences and will be of great importance to members of international organisations, consultancies, and financial institutions with a particular interest in Poland. Review ‘I heartily recommend this book to all students of the transition zone. Poland has a great deal to teach us, as long as we know what has happened there and how. This well-chosen set of essays provides the reader with just that knowledge.’ -- Roy Gardner, Slavonica ‘Too often discussions with regard to complex socioeconomic problems have descended into a narrow debate on the pros or cons of a neoliberal approach to economics. It is refreshing, therefore, to find a book that tries to offer an account of the transition, in this case Poland’s, in a way that recognizes ideological splits but also grounds the research in the physical actualities of life in Poland . . . This book is made richer by its diversity of views . . . If . . . you wish to get a good feel for the main debates within the country and some of the serious issues that create those strong feelings, then I am happy to recommend this work to you.’ -- Elizabeth Deboer-Ashworth, Slavic Review ‘Poland into the New Millennium is a welcome addition to the literature on transition. It is published at a time of great uncertainty in the Polish transformation with possible EU accession in the near future. . . anyone with an interest in transition the intimate familiarity with the process portrayed here is fascinating and for those specifically interested in Poland it is essential reading.’ -- Stuart Shields, The Global Site About the Author Edited by the late George Blazyca, formerly Director, Centre of Contemporary European Studies and Professor of Economics, University of Paisley, UK and Ryszard Rapacki, Professor and Head of Economics Department, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland