The Distinctive Characteristics of Transformation in Eastern Europe A Combination of Democracy and Nationalism

Abstract

Transformation in the eastern part of Europe began following the “velvet” revolution and continued after the “colour” revolutions. These two types of transformative revolution have many things in common, first of all a form of mass protest combining democracy and nationalism at its roots. However, nationalism did not begin to appear immediately after the fall of communism but rather after the first halting and unsuccessful democratic changes. In other words, nationalists did not take over from communists, but from democrats.