Rich and highly informative, this multi-layered, comprehensive perspective of a century long history of the Balkans includes many remarkable political, economic and social observations. It fits well as an introduction to the story of the region but also offers new insights for historians. - Othon Anastasakis, Director of the South East European Studies and Director of the European Studies Centre, University of Oxford, UK Praise for the first edition: When the Berlin Wall fell, South-Eastern Europe merged once again with a distinct identity of its own. It is the great achievement of this erudite comparative study - written by a scholar who is at home with the culture of the region as its economy - to explore the shared problems of the region in the years before the Second World War, and to see positive developments emerging from the bloody experience of post-communist transition. - Geoffrey Swain, University of the West of England, UK Lampe's book thus provides a reliable comparative synthesis, as well as a strong basis, for future scholarship. - Holly Case, Austrian History Yearbook 39 Lampe...presents a plausible and coherent argument, rich in detail and supported with well-chosen and well-presented economic data, in support of the view that the Balkans, in their development and ultimate destination - the EU - do not significantly differ from the rest of Europe. - Aleksandar Pavkovic, SEER, The Slavonic and East European Review An excellent survey of twentieth-century Balkan history. - Raymond Detrez, European History Quarterly
