This comparative analysis explores the evolution of governance in Central and Eastern Europe. The book considers post-communist leaders' key challenge: the development of central government institutions capable of coordinating, integrating, and steering the policymaking process. Building on a broad range of primary sources and extensive field research, the distinguished authors analyze the processes and outcomes of institution-building in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria since the late 1980s. Through their in-depth analysis of the development of national executive institutions, they cast a distinctive new light on debates about EU enlargement, Europeanization, and patterns of governance.

By Vesselin Dimitrov; Klaus H. Goetz and Hellmut Wollmann

Part 1 The Study of Postcommunist Executives Chapter 2 Core Executives after Communism Chapter 3 Executive Institutions and Policy: A Framework Analysis Part 4 Core Executive Trajectories in Four Countries Chapter 5 Hungary: A Core Supreme Chapter 6 Poland: A Core Ascendant? Chapter 7 Czech Republic: A Core Neglected Chapter 8 Bulgaria: A Core against the Odds Part 9 Comparative Assessments Chapter 10 Executive Trajectories Compared Chapter 11 Institutions and Their Effects: Budgetary and Policymaking Chapter 12 Domestic Institutions and European Governance