Did Communism Kill Religion in Eastern Europe?

This chapter examines how religion was affected by communism and how religious the Czech Republic and Hungary are today. It looks at how communist policy impacted various aspects of religion, including religious education and religious practices such as baptism and weddings. The chapter then analyzes current levels of religiosity in the Czech Republic and Hungary and discusses them in relation to religiosity in Western Europe. It is concluded that while religiosity in the Czech Republic is especially low, this may be due more to secularization than its communist legacy. Hungary's levels of religiosity are more in line with the rest of Eastern Europe and, given the government's recent inclusion of Christian values in public education, could potentially increase.

The Building of Democracy

This chapter looks at the events leading up to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia and Hungary in 1989. It addresses the overall climate that allowed communism to fall, along with specific events that took place in each country. The aftermath of the regime change is discussed as well as people's reactions to it. The chapter also looks at how democratic structures were built in each country. Finally, European Union membership is briefly discussed including how Czechs and Hungarians feel about the EU today.

How Democratic Are the Czech Republic and Hungary Today?

This chapter examines the current governments in the Czech Republic and Hungary and assesses how democratic they are. Changes in parties and leaders since 1989 are discussed, as well as how citizens feel about certain democratic values. Particular attention is paid to freedoms such as speech, the press, and elections. Additionally, corruption and scandal in each country are explored along with some more recent government policies. Ultimately, it is determined that while both countries are democracies, there are indications that some democratic backsliding is taking place. This is especially true in Hungary, where the ruling party Fidesz has been able to consolidate tremendous power.

Impact of Capitalism on the Workforce

This chapter analyzes various aspects of the workforce, both under communism and afterward. It looks at the limitations some people had under communism in terms of choosing their preferred occupations and advancing in their careers, and how those opportunities were impacted by their parents and party loyalty. The chapter also examines how private property was taken by the government during communism, and how privatization worked in the Czech Republic and Hungary after the regime change. Finally, it is thought that the stronger the economy, the more satisfied citizens will be with democracy. To see whether this is the case, the current economies of the Czech Republic and Hungary are examined along with people's feelings about them.

Education as a Source of Control

This chapter examines the role of education in political socialization – particularly whether people politically socialized under communism truly understand democracy and its principles. Education policy in the Czech Republic and Hungary is examined, along with how the education system worked under communism. Specific attention is paid to how socioeconomics and party loyalty affected people's educational opportunities. The role of more informal education such as participation in the pioneers program is also examined. It is concluded that civic education is vital for a country to be a fully functioning democracy.

The Role of Government in Political Socialization

This chapter introduces the overarching themes of the book. It looks at theory surrounding political socialization and how the type of government affects the way we learn about politics and government. It suggests that people politically socialized in countries with non-democratic forms of government are less likely to hold democratic values and also be less apt to develop political trust. Additionally, this chapter discusses the data and methods used throughout the book. It also provides a short summary of each of the remaining chapters.

Lessons From Eastern Europe

This chapter summarizes the key points of the book and discusses lessons other countries can learn from the Czech Republic and Hungary. It first looks closer at democratic backsliding—mainly what it is and whether former communist countries are suffering from it. Next, political leaders and parties in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the United States are examined, including how much influence they have over policy. The importance of democratic values and civic education are also discussed. Being knowledgeable about freedoms one should have in a democracy allows people to identify when those freedoms are being taken away. Separation of powers is then examined along with how well the Czech Republic and Hungary are doing, preventing the executive from having too much unilateral power. Finally, it is discussed whether the Czech Republic and Hungary are democratically backsliding and the role of the European Union in potentially stopping democratic erosion.

Does Anyone Miss Communism?

This chapter examines whether there are any aspects of communism that are missed and how people feel about democracy. While almost everyone said they preferred democracy to communism, people felt more secure about things such as their job, housing, and basic necessities under communism. Many of these aspects were affected by the centrally planned system used by communists. This chapter will discuss the differences between a centrally planned system and a capitalist system and how attitudes and behaviors of both governments and individuals can be affected by them. Additionally, there were some components of democracy people did not like. Many said democracy and capitalism made people too individualistic and materialistic. Even with these perceived shortcomings, people still felt democracy was a better political system.

Travel and Exposure to Western Culture

There are various reasons countries sometimes choose to regulate travel both in and out of their borders. During the Communist Era, countries in the Soviet bloc restricted travel mainly to prevent defection, and out of fear that people would realize life might be better outside the iron curtain. This chapter examines the impact travel restrictions had and shows they were largely unsuccessful in preventing exposure to Western ideals and culture. Many examples are given that show that without even having to travel people in Czechoslovakia and Hungary were learning through radio, television, books, and film how life was different in the West. Through personal remembrances, this chapter illustrates the effect of travel constraints and why people view the ability to travel freely as one of the main advantages of communism falling.