1. Violence Against Women in Post-communist Societies: Benefits and Changes
- Author:
- Vesna Nikolic-Ristanovic
- Publication Date:
- 05-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Wilson Center
- Abstract:
- Social changes, which recently occurred in post-communist countries, brought new opportunities for positive developments and offered the possibility of choice. In most countries, the social transition brought an opening of borders, enabling an influx of positive as well as negative influences. However, even the general positive impact of social changes is typically followed by more negative consequences in the everyday life of the people. The most dramatic consequences of social transition, manifested in a significant rise of unemployment and the loss of many social benefits. These developments are directly related to the replacement of planned, centralized economies by the market and the privatization of state property. Most people lost their previous social security benefits and, despite the fact that the general character of communism was “equality in poverty,” the social transition was a source of serious stress and numerous existential problems. This was further intensified by the fact that, at the same time, the growing import of both material goods and the American way of thinking, i.e. consumerism spirit of the West, urged people to achieve their “American dreams” at any cost.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Civil Society, Human Welfare, and Privatization
- Political Geography:
- America and Europe