Publication details
Post-transformation and the Civil Sphere in Central and Eastern Europe : A Conceptual Approach
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Chapter in a book |
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| Description | This introductory chapter explores the ways in which Civil Sphere Theory (CST) can help to understand the complex and non-linear dynamics of democracy and social solidarity in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following the collapse of communist regimes. We call upon the concept of “post-transformation” to move beyond the conventional “post-socialist” label, capturing the fundamental ambivalence, incompleteness, and openness of the massive social changes occurring after 1989/1991. A post-transformation lens illuminates how civil spheres in CEE have oscillated between democratic consolidation and backsliding, reflecting tensions between formal and informal institutions, ambivalent moral codes, and trauma and civil repair. In particular, historical trauma and new traumatic incidents, such as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, challenge the civil sphere but can also fuel high levels of active solidarity and democratic resilience. In the end, our analysis reveals CEE as an “experimental civil space,” the study of which contributes vital insights into democratic resilience, frontlash/backlash dynamics, and the negotiation of identity in a changing democratic landscape. To conclude, we outline each chapter and its contribution to understanding civil sphere dynamics in the post-transformation context of the CEE region. |