Ostensibly democratic elites drawn largely from the non-communist intelligentsia have taken over the most prominent positions in the “new” political systems of East Central Europe. To what extent do they resemble either their interwar or communist predecessors? The answer is complex, but even prior to the return of post-communists to a share of power in Poland, certain similarities were apparent. The present elites come largely from what one former dissident has called the “lower nobility” of the communist era; most lived fairly comfortably under the old order and many contributed significantly to its support system. Like their predecessors, they are perceived as being remote from public concerns, and many have yet to learn the accommodative and bargaining skills associated with politics in longer-established democracies.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
September 1994
Research Article|
September 01 1994
Plus Ça Change? Transformation and Continuity Among East European Elites Available to Purchase
Thomas A. Baylis
Thomas A. Baylis
Division of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249-0655, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Communist and Post-Communist Studies (1994) 27 (3): 315–328.
Citation
Thomas A. Baylis; Plus Ça Change? Transformation and Continuity Among East European Elites. Communist and Post-Communist Studies 1 September 1994; 27 (3): 315–328. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0967-067X/94/03/0315-14
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.