Political Change in Post-Communist Slovakia and Croatia: From Nationalist to Europeanist From Nationalist to Europeanist

Revealing how the quest for independence and challenges of democratization created a contest between nationalists and Europeanists, two powerful forces in domestic politics, after the collapse of communism, Fisher sheds light on the nationalism and post-communist transitions. After the collapse of communism, the quest for independence and challenges of democratization created a contest between two powerful forces: Nationalists and Europeanists. This book examines the battles between those rivals by tracking the rise, maintenance, and decline of national movements in two post-communist countries. It provides new insights into nationalism and post-communist transitions and contributes to the debate about whether international actors can influence the course of political change in democratizing states, helping to bring societies "back to Europe." After The Collapse Of Communism, The Quest For Independence And Challenges Of Democratization Created A Contest Between Two Powerful Forces: Nationalists And Europeanists. This Book Examines The Battles Between Those Rivals By Tracking The Rise, Maintenance, And Decline Of National Movements In Two Post-communist Countries. It Provides New Insights Into Nationalism And Post-communist Transitions And Contributes To The Debate About Whether International Actors Can Influence The Course Of Political Change In Democratizing States, Helping To Bring Societies Back To Europe. The Battle Between Nationalists And Europeanists -- The First Elections: 1990 In Croatia And 1992 In Slovakia -- Structuring The Ideology Of The New State -- Economic Policy: Using State Property For Political Gain -- The Politics Of Culture: Promoting A National Identity -- The Growth Of Democratic Civil Society -- The Fall Of The Nationalists: 1998 In Slovakia And 2000 In Croatia -- The Rule Of Europeanists. Sharon Fisher. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [243]-252) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Battle between “Nationalists” and “Europeanists”....Pages 3-22 The First Elections—1990 in Croatia and 1992 in Slovakia....Pages 23-52 Front Matter....Pages 53-53 Structuring the Ideology of the New State....Pages 55-81 Economic Policy: Using State Property for Political Gain....Pages 83-100 The Politics of Culture: Promoting a National Identity....Pages 101-119 Front Matter....Pages 121-121 The Growth of Democratic Civil Society....Pages 123-147 The Fall of the “Nationalists”: 1998 in Slovakia and 2000 in Croatia....Pages 149-168 Front Matter....Pages 169-169 The Rule of Europeanists....Pages 171-208 Conclusion....Pages 209-212 Back Matter....Pages 213-262 "After the collapse of communism, the quest for independence and challenges of democratization created a contest between two powerful forces: Nationalist and Europeanists. This book examines the battles between these rivals by tracking the rise, maintenance, and decline of national movements in two post-communist countries."--Jacket