ABSTRACT
The inability of the communist systems to generate political support and failure to maintain levels of economic growth or provide a general level of consum er satisfaction com bined to feed growing social discontent. Such sentiments grew as early processes of social mobility petered out and the beneficiaries of communist developm ent consolidated their position in the social order. The consequences of progressive economic failure and the poor capacity of communist systems to develop political processes and structures capable of successfully involving their members and securing their allegiance, left a large portion of the population without a secure stake in the new order. On the positive side, however, there was virtually no unemployment, a form of public order was generally m aintained and, although there were signs of discontent, no major social groups were fully alienated from the postwar system. But there was little evidence of positive support nor could there be much hope that such sentiments would develop to any great extent in the future. These negative tendencies were particularly marked among the young.
