The Information Technologies and East European Societies
The Information Technologies and East European Societies

Summary/Abstract: The perception of serious technological backwardness, and the desire to end it, lie at the heart of Eastern Europe's economic, political, and social upheaval, and this is not to underestimate the real aspirations of East European citizens to gain economic freedom and the rights of free expression and movement. Those aspirations seemed unattainable, however, until the Communist party leaderships in most of the East European countries began to accept the idea that a link exists between economic and technological achievement and greater freedom for individuals and firms. Awareness of socialism's utter failure to promote the widespread development and application of advanced technologies-as much as any other factor-led Eastern Europe's leaders to the verge of significant reform, while popular frustration with repressions and economic backwardness in Eastern Europe , and the inability of the region's Communist leaderships to offer acceptable solutions, became fully apparent in revolutions. [...]

• Details
• Contents