"An examination of the problem of liberalisation in the Central and East European (CEE) states, this book explores two related research questions: why has the course of political liberalisation in the CEE states failed to construct an organic link between democratic institutions and the public? and how has the economic liberalisation narrative of the liberalising elite excluded the public? Subsequently, the book investigates the conditions under which post-accession liberalisation comes to a halt in countries once praised by the Democratisation and Europeanization literatures for their pace of reform. Particular emphasis is on the comparative aspects of research, placing Hungary in context amongst the new EU member states such as Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia and examining trends over time. "--