Non-Military Security Issues in Central Europe

Abstract

The socio-political situation in Central Europe in the years after the fall of communism shows a sharp break from that system, but the region is not yet characterized by fully-formed and mature liberal democracies. These countries are still undergoing a phase of transition. At the heart of non-military security issues in Central Europe are problems that are new for these societies, and this novelty makes the problems especially challenging. There must be fostered among national populations a more sophisticated understanding of the free-market economy and of democratic principles. Particularly significant is the search for identity which is taking place on many levels – ethnic, cultural, religious and historical among others. This experience is important not only for Central European countries; it is also important for the European Union, whose members in 2004 they will become. This challenge is part of understanding the factors influencing the development of a democratic culture.