№ 4 - 2000
Mackow J.
Change of Communist Totalitarianism and he Post-Communist System Transformation: Problems, Concepts, Periodization

This article attempts a synthetic examination of problems and peculiarities of the post-communist system transformation, taking into consideration opinions expressed in literature on this subject. The author's main concern is to show that this transformation is a politically guided transformation of socialist totalitarianism, which is clearly differentiated from the democratization processes of formerly authoritarian regimes in Southern Europe and Latin America. Special attention is paid to the significance and political consequences of "abolishing the economy", "interrupting history" and the corruption of elites in totalitarianism, as well as to the problematic outcome of post-communist system transformation in the field of politics (parliamentary democracy or authoritarianism?). The author also provides a short analysis and definition of post-totalitarian "quasi-democratic authoritarian regimes". The most important prerequisites for successful democratization in post-totalitarian regimes are the behaviour of political elites and, especially, the first post-communist governments. All in all, it is shown that the modified totalitarian approach can produce positive analytical results in the post-communist era.