At this historical point (1989) the story of state socialism came to an end. Was it the end of Central and Eastern Europe's detour in its twentieth century revolt against the West, having rejected Western values and institutions, and having tried to break out from its peripheral status by moving to the right, and then to the left? The countries of the region now hope to return to Europe and the world system and catch up with the West. They are rushing to copy Western institutions, knocking at the door of the European Community, attempting to attract foreign capital. Has the story of the detour really ended?

This question is not yet answerable. The political roads toward the European Community are open. The East could thus become a part of the West if the requirements of joining are satisfied. As several Western and Eastern politicians have suggested, it is only a question of time.

It is not out of the question, however, that, as Adam Przeworski phrased it, the ‘East’ may become the ‘South’ (Przeworski, 1991). Using another oft-mentioned metaphor, the region, instead of joining Europe, might march out of Europe straight to the Third World. Central and Eastern Europe is in flux. What will happen? Something new is definitely in the making. The historian cannot predict the future, but can offer an analysis of the emerging new developments in statu nascendi, to discover the imminent trends, the choices and determinants, in their historical context.

Building a parliamentary-market system

‘Let us teach ourselves and others that politics can be not only the art of the possible … but that it can even be the art of the impossible, …