The State-Led Transition to Liberal Capitalism: Neoliberal, Organizational, World-Systems, and Social Structural Explanations of Poland's Economic Success1 (original) (raw)

Abstract

Neoliberals argue that rapid liberalization and privatization can transform postcommunist economies into Western-style capitalist systems. Organizational sociologists argue that these policies pro- duce a unique variety of capitalism, while world-systems theorists argue that they lead to underdevelopment. This article advances a social structural alternative in a crucial case. Poland's relative eco- nomic success resulted from prolonged state ownership and an

Key takeaways

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  1. Poland's economic success stemmed from a developmental state facilitating SOE restructuring before privatization.
  2. Neoliberal policies failed to account for the necessity of state intervention in transitioning economies.
  3. Contrary to neoliberal expectations, Poland's growth resulted from foreign direct investment and active state policies.
  4. The social structural approach highlights the role of domestic elite conflicts in shaping Poland's transition outcomes.
  5. Poland's GDP grew by 59.9% since its transition, contrasting sharply with the underdevelopment seen in Russia.

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