The Political Economy Of Dual Transformations

Shows how market reform and democratization are compatible in former Communist countries

Dotyczy m. in. Polski.

Economic transformation in traditional development economics refers to the transition from an agricultural society to an industrial one. Based on the practical conditions and the experience since reform and opening up in the late 1970s, the author observes that the path China's economy takes is a dual transformation, namely, developmental transformation from an agricultural society to an industrial economy, and institutional transformation from planned economy to market economy. Centering on property ownership reform which is the supreme reform of the dual transformation, this book discusses land ownership approval, stock-holding system reform and the maintaining ownership of private enterprises, etc. Besides, the book expounds on the urbanization in China, believing that it is not only the outcome of the dual transformation but also the booster that will help China's economy continue to develop at a high speed. Independent innovation and industrial upgrading which is the key to the enhancement of enterprises' competitiveness is also covered. The combination or overlapping of the two types of transformations in China has had no precedent in history, and it has not been discussed in traditional development economics. Scholars and students in China's economic studies and development economics studies will be attracted by this book. In addition, this book will be a valuable reference for other developing countries which are undergoing economic transformation.

This book breaks new intellectual ground in the analysis of the German welfare state. Bleses and Seeleib-Kaiser argue that we are witnessing a dual transformation of the welfare state, which is caused by the emergence of new dominating interpretative patterns. Increasingly, the state reduces its social policy commitments towards securing the achieved living standard of former wage earners, which in the past had been the key normative principle of social policy in Germany, while at the same time public support and services for families are expanded.

First published in 1987, this book comprises a critical evaluation of Marxist, Gramscian and pluralist theories of social development; the application of these theories, chiefly to Third World countries: hence consideration of the problems of ‘specificity’, general theory and social change. This is followed by an assessment of the stages of economic development in relation to state power and politics; and the role of the ‘external’: the impact of the world market economy and the security imperative. The book is not a discussion of theory, but of theory-in-practice. Above all, it represents a continuing debate between Marxism and pluralism – on the themes of accumulation, power, legitimacy – resulting in convergence.

The Political Economy of Transition in Eurasia looks at the progress in democratization and economic liberalization of the 27 post- communist countries of Eurasia with some guarded optimism. Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are clearly unabashed authoritarian regimes with only sporadic ventures toward political accountability and very limited effort to liberalize economically. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia have made more substantial moves, particularly on the economic side, but the regimes seem to be undergoing political retrenchment. Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and the three Baltic States clearly have competitive democracies with effective political institutions and processes and functioning market economies. However, as some of the contributors suggest, some very serious challenges and unmet expectations remain. It is clear that the "dual transition" of democratization and economic liberalization has been a challenge for all the regimes that have seriously attempted it.

Based on rich oral histories, this is an engaging study of citizenship construction and practice in Liberia, Africa's first black republic.