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
Summary
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."
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-252) and index
