Theoretical Perspectives on Central Europe

Abstract: Various theoretical perspectives on political developments in postcommunist Central Europe are considered. The paradigms of modernization & democratic theories are found insufficient to explain such phenomena as the renewal of ethnoregional identities typical of the region & sometimes lead to irredentism & secession. It is argued that these phenomena can be better understood in the context of Stein Rokkan's (1975) conceptions of state- & nation-building. Rokkan's theory on the critical junctures in history is tested on the return of the 1991 Polish parliamentary elections. A map of the turnout in these elections is presented, showing the lines of the Third Partition (1795-1919) in contemporary electoral behavior. Other examples of the reintegration of historic regions are presented, & the consequences of this development discussed

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet ; In: Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review ; 4 (1996) 1 ; 3-17

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 1996
• Creator: Surazska, Wieslawa

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-54018
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:35 AM CEST