ABSTRACT
The regime change (takeover of non-communist governments) happened in the countries observed between mid-1989 and late 1991. Poland was first (elections in June 1989, democratic government in August 1989), followed by Hungary (opening of “Iron Curtain” May 1989, elections March 1990), East Germany (fall of Berlin Wall November 1989, elections in March 1990, reunification with West Germany October 1990), Czechoslovakia (“Velvet Revolution” December 1989, elections June 1990), Romania (overthrow of Ceaupescu December 1989, elections May 1990), Croatia (elections April 1990, independence in fall of 1991), Bulgaria (elections June 1990), Russia (elections June 1991, dissolution of Soviet Union December 1991, independence), Ukraine (elections and independence December 1991). Yugoslavia is a special case, since the collapse of the old state (SFRY) took place in the fall of 1991, when Croatia gained
independence, and the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY, comprising only the two republics of Serbia and Montenegro) was set up in February 1992, but a socialist regime remained in power, although it allegedly accepted marketoriented reforms.
