This work provides a comprehensive introduction to the nations of Central and Eastern Europe over a half century of turbulent change - from post-war subjugation by the Soviet Union to both shared and divergent experiences of post-communist transition to free-market democracies. Detailed chapters on each country of the region describe the particular feautures of the country’s communist regime and its collapse, and the country’s response to four post-communist challenges: creating democratic political institutions; economic liberalisation; achieving social accord; reorienting relations with the world, and in particular with neighbouring states.