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Reform and Popular Protest in Eastern Europe

In: Economic and Political Reform in Developing Countries

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  • David Seddon

Abstract

This chapter charts the remarkable upsurge in popular protest in eastern Europe over the last five years against governments and their policies and assesses the relationship between popular protest and economic and political reform. At first sight, the protest movements of the 1980s directed against the existing Communist regimes might be regarded as simply ‘political’, although a crucial element in these movements was a concern for economic reform, while the protests of the early 1990s were directed against the austerity measures which accompanied economic liberalisation and might be thus regarded as ‘economic’ or ‘social’ in character. But the more recent protests — preoccupied as they evidently were with ‘bread and butter’ issues and the immediate implications of austerity — also had (and continue to have) a significant political dimension. Whether calling for a return to the nationalist and socialist past, or simply for more protection for the vulnerable groups in society, or for more rapid and far-reaching liberalisation, they tended to use the powerful language of morality (thereby challenging the legitimacy of governments as well as of their policies) and have significantly affected the rate and character of economic reforms, and even the balance of political forces within the countries concerned.

Suggested Citation

  • David Seddon, 1995. "Reform and Popular Protest in Eastern Europe," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Oliver Morrissey & Frances Stewart (ed.), Economic and Political Reform in Developing Countries, chapter 1, pages 11-38, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-13460-1_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-13460-1_2
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