Collection of Zhang Wenwu

Author: Zhang Wenwu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book compiles five groups of articles in chronological order. The first group of articles primarily discusses the historical background under which Eastern European countries embarked on the path of socialist development after World War II. The first group begins with an introduction to the "Yalta System" and discusses the international environment and changes in the international situation faced by Eastern European countries after the war. The second group of articles focuses on the socialist system reform in Eastern European countries. The second group starts with an introduction to the "Eastern European Economics" established in the 1920s, discussing its development and the theoretical explorations carried out in the 1950s-1960s, with a special introduction to the main views of the renowned Polish economist Oscar Lange and the reformist father of the Czech Republic, Ota Sik, particularly their discussions on the role of the market under socialist conditions. The third group of articles focuses on the dramatic changes in the political situation in Eastern Europe and the hardships experienced after the changes. The fourth group of articles centers on the integration of Eastern European countries into the European integration process. The fifth group of articles primarily addresses the changes in the world today and the issue of establishing a new international order. As mentioned earlier, compiling this collection of articles mainly aims to gather some of the materials and analyses collected from past research work together to describe the vicissitudes of Eastern Europe over the past 50-odd years. As for whether the political changes, institutional reforms, and return to Europe in Eastern European countries are blessings or curses, the articles do not provide answers. The transformation of Eastern Europe, as a part of the changes in the world, is an historical development that is not subject to human will. Vicissitudes are the right path, and change is the eternal law of the development of things.