1 Introduction (Bettina van Hoven, Tim Unwin, Alienke Jansen)

Thinking about transition

Approach of this book

Pedagogical structure

The themes

References

2 Transition in context: Theory in post-socialist transformations (John Pickles, Tim Unwin)

Liberal political economies of transition

Grounded theory and the cultural turn

Renegotiating Cold War politics

Cultural memory and post-socialist identities

Theorizing borderlands

Redrawing state boundaries and the cultural identities of borderlands

Borders, identities and the return to Europe

Rethinking state socialist history

Globalization and Pan-European geographies

Conclusion

Suggested reading

References

3 Understanding transition (Bettina van Hoven)

A 'West side' (short) story

'East is East'

Understanding transition

Them and Us

Defining the Other

I am an interesting oddity

Conclusion

References

4 Researching transition (Bettina van Hoven (with all contributors))

Edwin Bakker

Thomas Boren

Moya Flynn

Simon Groen

Ignes Gulyas

Kathrin Hoerschelmann

Bettina van Hoven

Margareta Lelea

Carmella Pfaffenbach

Sari Poeyhoenen

Izabela Robinson

Alison Stenning

Nigel Swain

Aurora Trif

Craig Young, Sylwia Kaczmarek and Chrissie Gibson

5 Identities (Bettina van Hoven)

Finding facts

Understanding terms and concepts

Identities in transition

Place identities in LodY/ Poland

Place identities in St. Petersburg/ Russia

Place identities in Mecklenburg-Westpommerania/ the former GDR

Claiming identities in Thuringia/ the former GDR

Claiming identities in Russia

Gender identities in the former GDR

Review and discussion

Perception and opinion

Suggested reading

6 Relationships (Bettina van Hoven)

Finding facts

Understanding terms and concepts

Relationships in transition

Remembering the co-operative

A feeling of sameness

Holding the co-operative together

Starting disintegration of the community

Disturbance in the community

Friendships

Families: children and parents

Marriage

Re-establishing new relationships?

New community members

Review and discussion

Perception and opinion

Suggested reading

7 Production (Bettina van Hoven)

Finding facts

Understanding terms and concepts

Production in transition

Regional strategies within a Special Economic Zone

Business expansion for profit

Survival strategies

Success

Struggle

Exploitation

Restructuring (a manufacturing enterprise in Poland)

Restructuring (publishing houses in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland)

Positive experiences with Western management practices

Negative reactions to Western management practices

Review and discussion

Perception and opinion

Suggested reading

8 Consumption (Bettina van Hoven)

Finding facts

Understanding terms and concepts

Consumption in transition

Tourism and travel

Opportunity: means to develop identity

Opportunity: choice

Barrier: estrangement

Barrier: lack of money

Consuming the natural environment/ Russia

Consuming the natural environment/ Poland

A system for consumption/ Poland

A system for consumption/ Hungary

Selling the city/ Poland

Review and discussion

Perception and opinion

Suggested reading

9 Power (Bettina van Hoven)

Finding facts

Understanding terms and concepts

Power in transition

Collaboration between authorities and NGOs

The power of the people

Outside the circle of power

Past empowerment

The next generation

Departure

Uncertainty and neglect

Review and discussion

Perception and opinion

Suggested reading

10 Looking back on 'Lives in transition' (Bettina van Hoven)

Materials