El. knyga: New Parliaments of Central and Eastern Europe

Investigates the role of parliaments in the new capitalist countries, whether they have been influenced by those of the communist era, and whether they fulfill the same functions. The 11 papers discuss Russia and several other countries, and also provide overviews. The collection first appeared in The Journal of Legislative Studies vol. 2, no. 1 (1996). Paper edition (unseen), $18.50. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

What role have parliaments played in the dramatic changes occurring in Eastern and Central Europe? Adopting a common research framework, the contributors analyse in detail the role and operations of parliaments in ten of the new democracies. They focus on what determines their capacity to have some impact on public policy. They identify the significance of parliaments operating in often hybrid systems of government, with the relationship between the executive and legislature not well defined, and with an absence of constraining influence that typify western political systems.