This book is a collaborative effort of scholars from Australian universities and prominent international researchers. It comes at a time when Central and Eastern European countries are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union. It examines the political, economic and social transformations that have taken place in the post-communist era. In particular, it assesses the achievements of countries in the region in areas such as democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and market economy, as well as their integration into the European Union. The book also highlights the challenges that still lie ahead of CEE countries in their new roles, in Europe and beyond.