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Elites in Transition

Elite Research in Central and Eastern Europe

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The question of who rules in Eastern Europe became crucial for western researchers after the establishment of communist regimes, particularly as state socialism spread into Central Europe post-World War II. This political order, characterized by a highly centralized and repressive power structure according to Leninist and Stalinist theories, directed attention toward the top echelons of party and state officials. The extreme centralization of power led to an elitist analysis, often viewed from a distance. Paradoxically, a system that claimed to represent the pinnacle of historical development and espoused egalitarianism while denying individual significance was largely interpreted through the personal traits, rivalries, and idiosyncrasies of its leaders. Much of society remained shrouded in obscurity, revealing only fragments of social life far removed from the centers of power. While it is debatable whether this focus on elite figures distorted the overall understanding of these regimes, it certainly contributed to an overestimation of their stability, an underappreciation of their diversity, and a misjudgment of the conflicts and divisions that existed within them.

Acquisto del libro

Elites in Transition, Heinrich Best, Ulrike Becker

Lingua
Pubblicato
1996
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(In brossura),
Condizioni del libro
In buone condizioni
Prezzo
4,79 €

Metodi di pagamento

Titolo
Elites in Transition
Sottotitolo
Elite Research in Central and Eastern Europe
Lingua
Inglese
Pubblicato
1996
Formato
In brossura
Pagine
250
ISBN10
3810018449
ISBN13
9783810018441
Serie
Descrizione
The question of who rules in Eastern Europe became crucial for western researchers after the establishment of communist regimes, particularly as state socialism spread into Central Europe post-World War II. This political order, characterized by a highly centralized and repressive power structure according to Leninist and Stalinist theories, directed attention toward the top echelons of party and state officials. The extreme centralization of power led to an elitist analysis, often viewed from a distance. Paradoxically, a system that claimed to represent the pinnacle of historical development and espoused egalitarianism while denying individual significance was largely interpreted through the personal traits, rivalries, and idiosyncrasies of its leaders. Much of society remained shrouded in obscurity, revealing only fragments of social life far removed from the centers of power. While it is debatable whether this focus on elite figures distorted the overall understanding of these regimes, it certainly contributed to an overestimation of their stability, an underappreciation of their diversity, and a misjudgment of the conflicts and divisions that existed within them.