Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Drawing on visits to Eastern Europe before, during, and after 1989, Laufer illustrates the contradiction between the idealism of the revolutions there and the unresolved burdens of the past. While these societies convincingly rejected Communist rule, they could not eradicate its effects overnight, nor could they long avoid the reappearance of ethnic intolerance and nationalism. Although clearly not an East European expert, Laufer applies his journalistic tenacity and personal observations to this very newsworthy subject. He cites a wealth of evidence which bolsters his central theme, focusing particularly on the revolution and subsequent unification of Germany. His treatment of ethnic strife in Yugoslavia, Slovak separatism, and ethnic Hungarians in Romania demonstrates that while the Iron Curtain has risen, threatening clouds still lurk over Eastern Europe. Though overly pessimistic and superficial in places, Laufer's work contributes to our understanding of the ominous signals currently emanating from Eastern Europe." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)