Understanding Eastern Europe

An acclaimed commentator and writer on eastern Europe, John Howell has succeeded here in writing a much-needed and highly readable guide to the current scene. This is not yet another 'doing business in' guide, rather it is concerned with the underlying political, cultural and economic influences in which the reform process is embedded. Drawing on a wealth of case studies, the book looks at: the opportunities for trade and investment; the true impact of the collapse of communism; the failure of the west to provide an alternative; the misdirection of aid programmes; cultural diversity within eastern Europe; the role of foreign investment; the direction of economic and political reform; which direction should eastern Europe be going in now?