Little more than a decade after the fall of communism, the Baltic states and Poland, alongside several other Central European states, have been invited to join the European Union from 2004. The speed of change has been breathtaking, surprising even the most optimistic voices. This volume gives a comprehensive overview of the state of democracy around the eastern Baltic seaboard, highlighting in particular the importance of elites in newly emerging democracies.

?Baltic Democracies at the Crossroads" is the first volume to provide in-depth analysis of the rapidly changing political circumstances of the Baltic countries, Poland, and Kaliningrad to a wide audience, covering the transformation from the Soviet-style nomenklatura to competitive elites; changing political behaviour; and the links between citizens and elites. In addition, the book covers the interconnections between networks of elites, including local elites. One chapter also analyses the delicate issue of the detached Russian region of Kaliningrad.