Well-suited or Ill-suited?
Poland as a Role Model for Reforms in Ukraine
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Poland’s radical economic and political reforms after 1989 were an enormous success. In Ukraine, Warsaw’s liberal path is considered a role model. However, circumstances differ considerably. Ukraine’s economic decline may indeed be so glaring that the population is ready for far-reaching reforms. However, it is incomparably more difficult to reform Ukraine’s deformed oligarchic capitalism, and Russia’s war against Ukraine diverts resources. In addition, the international situation is much worse than it was for Poland in 1989: The EU will not support Ukraine to the same extent as it did the Central European countries, and the years of global neoliberal consensus are over.
(Osteuropa 3/2015, pp. 163–172)