The Revolutions of 1989

Revolutions of 1989 brings together some of the most influential and provocative articles on the collapse of communism in Eastern and Central Europe, one of the most important events in recent world history. Prefaced by a comprehensive historical introduction and written by some of the prominent analysts and architects of the revolutionary upheaval, the essays examine the economic, political and social nature of modern revolutions, the legacies of dissent, the extent of the collapse of Leninist regimes in Europe and the political and ethical tensions of the post-communist situation. Contributors: Bruce Ackerman, Timothy Garton Ash, Daniel Chirot, S.N. Eisenstadt, Jeffrey C. Isaac, Ken Jowitt, Tony Judt, Leszek Kolakowski, Jacek Kuron, Adam Michnik, Mircea Mihaies, Jacques Rupnik, G.M. Tamas, Katherine Verdery, and Zhelyu Zhelev.

Bruce Ackerman, professor of political theory, Yale University Daniel Chirot, professor of sociology, Henry Jackson School of International Affairs, University of Washington S. N. Eisenstadt, professor of sociology, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and professor, Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago Timothy Garton Ash, journalist and historian, Oxford University Jeffrey C. Isaac, professor of political theory, Indiana University Ken Jowitt, professor of political science, University of California at Berkeley Tony Judt, professor of history, director of Remarque Institute, New York University Leszek Kolakowski, professor of philosophy, Oxford University Jacek Kuron, political writer and activist, former minister of labour, one of the leaders of the Freedom Union Party, Poland Adam Michnik, historian and journalist Mircea Mihaies, literary essayist and political commentator Jacques Rupnik, professor of political science at the Center for International Studies and Research, Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, Paris G. M. Tamas, civic activist and political philosopher, University of Budapest Vladimir Tismaneanu, professor of politics and director of the Center for the Study of Post-Communist Societies at the University of Maryland Katherine Verdery, professor of anthropology, University of Michigan Zhelyu Zhelev, historian and politician, former President of Bulgaria