The Myths of 1989

What if the story of neoliberalism’s emergence in post-communist states was not one of Western imposition, but rather one of local innovation, adaptation, and resistance? The Myths of 1989 challenges the familiar yet mythical narrative that neoliberalism arrived ready-made and was delivered by Western advisers to Eastern European governments in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Long before the watershed years of 1989 and 1991, autochthonous actors experimented with these ideas and, at times, resisted Western advice, often blending neoliberal concepts with domestic policy goals and remnants of socialist legacies. Written by scholars from the fields of history, sociology, and political economy, this collection offers a nuanced and unconventional account of economic change in the region. By moving beyond simplistic East-meets-West explanations and exploring early market experiments under communism, as well as selective reforms in the 1990s, the book uncovers alternative paths and choices made throughout this transformation. It presents a fresh perspective on one of the twentieth century’s most significant economic shifts.