"As time passes the world of the communist states in Cold War Eastern Europe has come to seem remote, particularly for the young who never experienced them as contemporary political realities. Distinguished historian and commentator Sabrina.P.Ramet has produced a valuable text that will help remedy this situation. It can be recommended without reservation for all students, and particularly those involved in the rapidly expanding world of Cold War history. This is a book that everyone, however knowledgeable, can learn from, and it has a depth of reference that will make it essential reading." - James Pettifer, St Cross College, Oxford, United Kingdom
"Superbly documented, engagingly written, combining persuasively comparative
theoretical analysis with political, social, and intellectual history, as well as an interest in ideas and values rather than ideological fallacies, Sabrina Ramet's new book is an outstanding scholarly achievement." - Vladimir Tismaneanu. University of Maryland, College Park, USA
"Sabrina P. Ramet's outstanding study provides a fascinating and comprehensive journey into the ideological nature, political structure and social mobilization of East Central European communism. This is the first sociological study of the intended and unintended consequences of communist policies in politics, economic planning, culture, religion, and gender equality during the Cold War period. It is a must-read for students, academics and policy makers." - Lucian N. Leustean, Aston University, United Kingdom, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Europe
"Sabrina P. Ramet has written one of the most original histories of communism in Central and South-Eastern Europe." - Florian Anghel, "Ovidius" University of Constan a, Romania, Historical Yearbook
"In conclusion, the stimulating and well-structured book by Ramet is an excellent opportunity for further analyzing the unintended consequences of Communism, paying particular attention to the mediation mechanism of political, economic, and social interests in socialist societies and the reasons for their failure." - Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna, Human Rights Review
"an excellent, accessible introduction to a complex subject." - Marko Attila Hoare, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Europe-Asia Studies
"probably one of the best specialists in the world in the history of Eastern Europe in the twentieth century" - Hrvoje Klasic, University of Zagreb, Croatia
