Students of democratic theory have watched the dramatic transformation of Eastern Europe from communism to various forms of democracy in the last two decades. With her unique blend of theory and empirical analysis, veteran observer Sabrina P. Ramet offers clear insight into the processes, challenges, and accomplishments of this area. Drawing on a classical understanding of liberalism based on a philosophy of Natural Law, she probes the issues of capitalism, national sovereignty and self-determination, gender inequality, and political legitimacy in the context of Eastern Europe's particular experience. She also explores the limitations of classical liberalism and argues for the extension of liberal principles to encompass the rights of women and protection of all species as well as the environment. Political theorists, political scientists, students of Eastern Europe, and those interested in the larger questions of political philosophy will be richly rewarded in their reading of this volume by a renowned scholar of Eastern European politics.