The Czech And Slovak Republics: Nation Versus State (Nations of the Modern World) [Paperback]

Carol Leff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813329221 | ISBN-13: 978-0813329222 | Publication Date: October 25, 1996

This clear, objective introduction to the politics of Czechoslovakia and the successor Czech and Slovak Republics provides a comprehensive analysis of Czechoslovakia in the postcommunist period. Carol Leff builds a framework for understanding the dynamics of the “triple transition”: democratization, marketization, and a national transformation that has reconfigured the dynamic between state and nation. She shows how the interaction of these three transformational agendas has shaped Czechoslovakia’s development, ultimately culminating in the paradoxical disintegration of a state that most of its citizens wished to preserve.The book offers a valuable case study of a country coming back to Europe, but it also provides an opportunity for analyzing the influence of communism on what had been a significant interwar European state. The book’s strong comparative element will make it invaluable as well for those seeking to understand contemporary central and eastern Europe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carol Skalnik Leff is assistant professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (October 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813329221
• ISBN-13: 978-0813329222
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > History > Europe > Slovakia
  • #53 in Books > History > Europe > Czech Republic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE ONLY SOURCE FOR CURRENT CZECH AND SLOVAK INFO!!!, April 29, 1999

By 

Shawna Marie ([e-mail]) (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Czech And Slovak Republics: Nation Versus State (Nations of the Modern World) (Paperback)

Leff has written the first detailed analysis of the Czech and Slovak Republics since their divide in 1993. She provides sufficient historical background, an excellent tale of the Velvet Revolution, and an accurate evaluation of the current situations in both countries including both political and economic statuses. This book is necessary for anyone wanting the real picture of Czech and Slovak life after the fall of the Soviet Union.