The Strategy of the German List at the Polish Local and Regional Elections of 1998
The Strategy of the German List at the Polish Local and Regional Elections of 1998

Summary/Abstract: Since 1989 Poland has initiated a formidable transformation process aimed at sweeping away the vestiges of "really existing socialism." Democratization, the introduction of a market economy, and the installation of a welfare state based on West European models, have all been undertaken with the clear aim of the creation of civil society. Applications for membership for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) were approved by parliament not only with veritable speed but also without any substantial opposition. Public support for these policies is still relatively high although the sometimes difficult negotiations with the EU have been reflected in a lessening of support for Polish accession. In the process of political transformation the reorganization of regional and local government has played a pivotal role, as it was designed with the aim of enhancing the power of the periphery at the expense of an over-mighty center. [...]

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