The development of the communist successor parties will vitally affect the course of democratic consolidation in the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Yet it would be incorrect to assume that these parties will affect the course of democratic consolidation in exactly the same way, or develop along the same lines. Indeed the communist successor parties have evolved in a variety of different ways.

What accounts for the divergent paths followed by the communist parties of Central and Eastern Europe? Why are some of these parties able to make a relatively successful transition from communist parties committed to democratic competition while others seem far less capable (or willing) to do so? This book presents thoughtful analyses of these important questions.