Discourse and transformation in Central and Eastern Europe

About this book

This interdisciplinary volume explores the discursive construction of post-1989 social change in Central and Eastern Europe. Encompassing a set of national case studies on countries such as Czech Republic, former East-Germany, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia or other Balkan states, the volume explores processes of post-communist transformation from the point of view of accelerating and unique dynamics of linguistic and discursive practices. Highlighting the micro-macro link, those practices are examined within - as well as at the cross-section of - the public domain (in politics, media, religion or civil society) and the private sphere (within individual experiences of post-communism). Providing in-depth, systematic analysis of discourse in different situations, contributions to the volume analyse diverse forms of social, political, cultural, economic or institutional transformation in post-communist contexts. The analysis points to several differences and similarities between ways in which discourse influences the unprecedented social change across Central and Eastern Europe.