Eastern Europe 1939-2000 - Mark Pittaway

Eastern Europe examines the post-war history of Eastern Europe from the perspective of social history. Integrating fresh research, this book examines the nature and impact of socialist dictatorships on society, and reveals the extent to which phenomena that emerged during the dictatorships are shaping today's society.



Eastern Europe is both thematic and comparative. The themes examined include the social legacy of the Second World War, the Stalinist experience, the post-Stalinist regimes, the challenges to the dictatorships, the Revolutions of 1989, and the post-socialist experience. Political events are set in the context of wider social changes allowing proper consideration to be given to neglected themes such as class, gender, ethnicity and popular religion.