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Privatization and elite reproduction in Eastern Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Paul Windolf
Paul Windolf
Affiliation:
Universität Trier(Trier).
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Abstract

This analysis concentrates on die different privatization methods which have been applied in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and East Germany. It is argued that the different privatization methods had a considerable impact upon the unequal distribution of ownership and control in former state-owned enterprises. The reproduction rate of the former nomenclature is relatively high in all four countries regardless of the privatization method. In post-socialist countries a particular type of capitalism is evolving which can be characterized by its specific ideology and the governance structure of the privatized firms. The outcome of shock therapy which has been applied in some post-socialist countries has been paradoxical: it did not destroy the power basis of the nomenclature, but radier stabilized it. In most firms there is no clear-cut separation of ownership and control (manager capitalism), but rather a balance of power between managers (nomendature) and the new owners.

Comparaison a été faite des méthodes de privatisation mises en œcuvre respectivement en Pologne, Hongrie, République tchèque et AUemagne (ex RDA). On voit que le choix de la méthode a eu un impact considérable sur l'inégalité dans les distributions de la propriété et du pouvoir au sein des entreprises anciennement étatiques. Le taux de reproduction de l'ancienne nomenklatura est relativement élevé dans les 4 pays et done assez peu dépendant des voies de privatisation. Dans les pays post-socialistes un type particulier de capitalisme se met en place qui se signale par une idéologic et une structure de gouvernement de la firme spécifiques. Le résultat de la thérapie de choc appliquée dans certains pays a été paradoxal: renforcement du pouvoir de la nomenklatura. Dans la plupart des firmes il n'y a pas de séparation daire entre propriété et pouvoir mais plutôt un équilibre entre managers et nouveaux propriétaires.

Die Analyse konzentriert sich auf die unterschiedlichen Privatisierungsmedioden, die in Polen, Ungarn, der Tschechischen Republik und in Ostdeutschland angewandt wurden. Es wird argumentiert, daΒ die unterschiedlichen Privatisie-rungsmethoden einen erheblichen EinfluΒ auf die ungleiche Verteilung des Eigentums und der Kontrolle über die früheren staatseigenen Betriebe gehabt haben. Ungeachtet der unter-schiedlichen Privatisierungsmethoden war die Höhe der Reproduktionsrate der ökonomischen Elite in alien Ländern relativ hoch. In den ehemaligen sozialisrischen Ländern hat sich ein besonderer Typus des Kapitalismus entwickelt, der sich durch eine spezifische Ideologie und Unternehmensstruktur auszeichnet. Das Ergebnis der Schocktherapie, die in einigen sozialistischen Landern angewandt wurde, ist paradox: Die Machtbasis der früheren Nomenklatura wurde stabilisiert, anstatt untergraben. In den meisten Unternehmen gibt es keine klare Trennung von Eigentum und Kontrolle (Manager-Kapitalismus), sondern eher ein Machtgleichgewicht zwischen Managern und den neuen Eigentümern.

Type
Actualité Européenne
Information
European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , November 1998 , pp. 335 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © Archives Européenes de Sociology 1998

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