The well known scholar of 1956 is sceptical concerning whether the changes in Eastern Europe will indeed lead to democracy. He criticises the analogies with Latin America in this regard. After providing a short description of state socialisms, he expounds that in his view, the history of authoritarian systems is continuing in East Europe. He refers to the failures of privatisation and the stabilisation of the position of the new elite. He describes the rapid disillusionment with the new parties, the improbability of the economic catching up and the necessity of the emergence of new class conflicts.
