Final Assignment!

For your final project I would like you to write a paper concerning the post-socialist transformation that your state is currently progressing through. For this project you should discuss the following topics:

A Recap of the Communist Era

• What was life like under communism in your country? Was the political situation as harsh and hopeless as it was in other Central-East European states?
• Were there any distinctions about communism in your country that were not covered in our readings or the films we watched in class? If so, what were they?
• What industries did your state heavily participate in – did it “specialize” in any industries under communism?

A Summary of the Ongoing Transformation

• How has the post-communist transformation proceeded in your countries?
• What political challenges or hurdles have occurred since the collapse of the Iron Curtain?
• What economic challenges have arisen? How has your state attempted to privatize all of the wealth in their countries?
• What role has direct foreign investment (FDI) played in the economic development of your state?
• How has your state acted geopolitically since the collapse of the Iron Curtain? What organizations and states has it aligned itself with? How have its alliances, allies, and disposition toward neighbors and the world community changed and evolved since 1989/91?
• How have nationalist sentiments manifested themselves since the collapse of the socialist ideal? How has nationalism influenced your state’s post-socialist development – if at all?

Final Product

You will turn in a seven-to-ten (6-8) page paper, double-spaced, 12-point serif font, that covers these questions. You should have at least three academic sources (books or journal articles) and 12 sources total (e.g., magazine, newspaper, or online news agency articles). Up to two encyclopedic sources can count toward your 12 sources (e.g., Wikipedia, CIA World Factbook, etc.). If you have any questions or trouble finding your sources, let me know early on.

Due
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 by 5pm.