CAPITALISM BY DESIGN ? Central and Eastern Europe ' s Accession to the European Unio n (original) (raw)

This paper examines the processes of transformation and integration experienced by central and eastern European countries in their accession to the European Union (EU). It explores whether this accession is leading these nations toward a model of "capitalism by design," particularly reflecting the western European social-market framework, or if their return to Europe is influenced by the lingering effects of state socialism. The findings suggest that the EU's accession criteria and comprehensive frameworks have significantly shaped the evolution of CEE capitalism, marking a shift from traditional capitalist paths to a model increasingly dictated by EU standards.