Fears in Post-Communist Societies: A Comparative Perspective by Vladimir s> Shlapentokh Eric Shiraev (review)

Abstract

REVIEWS 12I and avoidance of shock therapy.Giatzidisprovides some horrificstatisticson the poor state of the economy, for example, the table on page 85 shows declining GDP percentage each year from I989-93. Economic recovery in 1994-95 gave way to an even greater decline in GDP in I996-97. Popular discontent finally brought about a change from the BSP government after 1997. Only by 2008 is the country likely to regain the level of economic development that it had in I989 (p. 93). Giatzidis explains the economic failingsmainly in termsof slowprivatization,which is linkedboth to low FDI, and to a mistaken and cumbersome agriculturalpolicy of land restitutionto the multiplicityof formerowners. Giatzidisis particularlyconcerned with the fact that although Bulgariahas a democratic multi-party system and now shows more tolerance to its minorities Turksand Roma-Gypsies it stilllacks a proper civil society. Non-governmental organizationsdo not play a full role in society due to the legacy of the former centralized Communist state system and resource constraintswhich limit theirparticipation.Giatzidismakesvariousinteresting suggestionsas to how the role of NGOs could be strengthened. The lastpartof the book turnsfromthe domestic situationin Bulgariato its international relations, particularlywith the former Yugoslavia,Macedonia, Turkey, and Greece. The reorientation of Bulgarian policy from Russia towardsthe EU and NATO is highlighted. Bulgariameets many of the entry criteria laid down by both organizations and has conceded increasingly to theirdemands, includingthose of the EU to close its importantnuclearpower station. Readers of the book might worrythat whilstBulgariahas made great strides politically, its lack of democratic consolidation, poor economic state and endemic corruption may pose real problems for the EU and its enlargement. Nevertheless, Giatzidis's focus remains fixed on the Bulgarian perspective. In all, this is a lucid study which refers frequently to other publishedworksand weaves the materialtogether in an informativeway that is accessibleto the reader. BradfordCentrefor International Development J. HARROP UniversityofBradford Shlapentokh,Vladimirand Shiraev,Eric(eds).Fears inPost-Communist Societies. A Comparative Perspective. Palgrave, New York and Basingstoke, 2002. xi + i63 pp. Tables. Notes. Bibliography.Index. C35.o0. THIs book provides a comparative analysis of peoples' fears in postCommunist societies. There is a useful introduction which examines the psychological and underdeveloped sociological research on fears. Data is obtained from a series of empirical projects, primarily national polls and surveys,pluscase studiesand focusgroupsin selectedcountries.These include Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Lithuania, plus Poland and the Czech Republic. The underlying economic, political and social basis of fears shows many similaritiesin these countries.They have switchedfrom a Communist system which provided high employment and a high level of social protection to a 122 SEER, 82, I, 2004 more uncertainmarket-basedsystem.The economic securityand certaintyof the past has been replacedby insecurityin which there are clear winners and losers. Income inequality has widened and the losers have had most to fear. Consistentevidence showsthat it is the young and the educatedwho aremore positive and adaptable,with fewerfearsthan the elderlyand the lesseducated who have found it harder to adjust. Apart from economic worries about poverty and especiallythe threatof unemployment, other qualityof life issues are surveyedsuch as health, environmentand crimeplus politicalchange and fearsabout governmentsand changing foreignthreats. Each country also has its own specificconcerns, more so in Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine, in comparison with the Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania.The formergroupgenerallyfaredworseeconomically astheUSSR dissolved and they also suffered significantly from poor health, lower life expectancy and concern about environmental degradation. The Chernobyl nuclear reactor was a particular source of fear there. Nevertheless, even between the countrieswhich comprisethe formerUSSR therearedifferences, andBelaruswhich haschangedleasthasgeneratedlessfearanddissatisfaction. The main problem seems to be when rapid change occurs, expectations are not fulfilledand people are overwhelmedby a multiplicityof new problems. Each national chapter follows a similar pattern and generally strikesthe rightbalance between statisticalresults(oftenillustratedin tables),description and explanation. The book also includes two chapters which cover the fears of Russian immigrants in America and Israel. These provide original comparative material which fits within the frameworkof the book, but also provides valuable information on the migration processperse.It might have been better to move the final case study on Israel to chapter nine, dropping the American case essay which seems to add little, since it covers general problems and notjust fears.The conclusion to the book by the two editors...