Uncivil Society?: Contentious Politics in Post-Communist Europe (Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy,)

This volume makes a significant contribution to the debate about the development of post-communist civil society by focusing on its alleged 'dark side', i.e., on the groups that are excluded from 'civil society' on both conceptual and normative grounds. The chapters, written by specialists in the field, explore in rich empirical detail the complexities involved when such groups - like the skinheads in Hungary, the farmers' 'Self Defence' movement in Poland or the war-veterans in Croatia - challenge the state, engage in community activism, or get involved in protest actions. It also offers a contrasting perspective by focusing on similar activities by the alleged 'pro-democratic' actors of civil society, such as Impulse 99 in the Czech Republic. The book maintains that political protest, or contentious politics, should be included under a broad and positive development of associational activity in the region. Uncivil Society? Contentious Politics in Post-Communist Europe is a fascinating study, and will be of interest to scholars of Eastern European politics and history. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Tables......Page 9 Contributors......Page 10 Series editors’ preface......Page 12 Editors’ preface......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 Civil society in Eastern Europe......Page 20 Definitions of civil society......Page 24 Civil society and uncivil society......Page 27 Civil society and contentious politics......Page 30 Towards an empirical understanding of civil society......Page 31 Outline of the book......Page 32 Notes......Page 34 Civil society in society......Page 35 Civil society in socialist and post-socialist Yugoslavia......Page 37 The Serbian resistance movement......Page 41 Nationalism and civil society......Page 46 Notes......Page 51 Civil society and civil organisations......Page 52 Young people under state socialism......Page 55 Neo-Nazi and skinhead subculture......Page 57 Conclusion......Page 65 Notes......Page 68 Introduction......Page 69 Civil society in Slovakia before 1989......Page 70 Overview of civil society in Slovakia after 1989......Page 72 The Slovak National Movement—an integral part of civil society?......Page 74 SNM’s composition and organisation......Page 75 SNM’s contentious politics2......Page 78 SNM in independent Slovakia......Page 82 Conclusion......Page 85 Notes......Page 86 Introduction......Page 87 The growth of Croatian civil society......Page 90 Croatian veterans under the HDZ regime......Page 93 Veterans in the post-Tudjman era......Page 99 Notes......Page 104 Introduction......Page 106 Historical environment and informal networks......Page 107 Shared beliefs and solidarity......Page 108 Use of protest......Page 109 Cycles of contention......Page 110 Mobilisation: 1989–91......Page 111 Adjustment: 1992–4......Page 113 Fragmentation: 1995—present......Page 116 Explaining the failure......Page 121 Conclusion......Page 124 Notes......Page 126 Introduction......Page 127 The origins and background of Samoobrona......Page 128 The populist legacy......Page 129 Samoobrona’s programme......Page 130 Form and organisation......Page 132 Tactics and strategy......Page 133 Samoobrona’s constituency......Page 135 Samoobrona in the context of economic and political transformation......Page 139 Relations with the state and government......Page 141 Conclusions......Page 143 Notes......Page 145 Introduction......Page 147 Historical excursus......Page 148 Civil society before and after 1989......Page 149 Competing concepts of civil society and post-revolutionary politics......Page 150 ‘Impulse 99’......Page 153 ‘Thank You, Time To Go’......Page 158 Public response......Page 161 The role and character of the two initiatives......Page 162 Conclusion......Page 166 Notes......Page 167 The uncertain boundaries of civil society......Page 169 (Un)civil society and the state......Page 170 (Un)civil society and political parties......Page 171 Civil/uncivil society......Page 172 Civil society and political systems......Page 174 (Un)civil society and democratisation......Page 175 Organisational legacy......Page 176 Ideological legacies......Page 178 The cyclical nature of civil society mobilisation......Page 179 Conclusion......Page 180 Notes......Page 181 Bibliography......Page 183 Index......Page 198 This edited volume examines whether extremist groups pose a threat to civil society in Eastern Europe. This book will appeal to scholars with an interest in Eastern Europe, civil society and extremism Ever since the fall of communism, both the media and the scholarly community have initially expressed high hopes for at and later deep disappointment with civil society in post-communist Europe. Edited By Petr Kopecký And Cas Mudde. Series Numbered Retrospectively. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [171]-185) And Index.