Publisher's Synopsis
For the most part, economists, especially from the West, have treated the problem of economic transition in an unhistorical manner, ignoring the rich body of literature in the history of economics that addresses the complex issues of economic, social and cultural transformation. To bring to light some of these insights, the editors have gathered together contributions which highlight the many contributions of Adam Smith, Karl Polanyi, the Classical economists, Plato, Friedrich Hayek and the Catholic social tradition to the questions of the transformation of economies and societies. The contributors show that the lack of success of many reforms should have been expected because of the lack of historical and social context. Furthermore, the political backlash many of the reforms have experienced is also expected by anyone familiar with the work of Karl Polanyi, especially The Great Transformation (1944). - - Starting the necessary move towards looking at the economic and social problems of Eastern and Central Europe in their specific social and historical context, this book pushes towards a great understanding of economic transition as a political, social, cultural as well as economic process. - -
