ADAPTATION OF THE FORMER COMMUNIST PARTIES OF EAST-CENTRAL-EUROPE - ACASE OF SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIZATION

During the 5 years from 1989 to 1994 a series of parties in east-centr al Europe moved from enjoying a monopoly of power in single-party stat es to standing on the threshold of recognition as social-democratic pa rties in a context of competitive party politics. In confronting this process of adaptation they have been aided by their organizational str ength, but such elements of continuity have been accompanied by change s in their programmes and in their membership. Their search for a refa shioned identity has met up with a search on the part of the Socialist International for interlocutors in eastern Europe, the social-democra tic parties of the region having in most cases failed to establish the mselves in the new polities.