This volume investigates the evolving concept of 'citizenship' in Eastern Europe following political transitions, examining its implications for identity, rights, and state-civil society relations. The book explores how the formal definition of membership in a political community is being redefined in post-communist nations, raising critical questions about human rights, mobility, and the broader cultural and contractual aspects of belonging. It brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars from various Eastern and Western European countries, as well as the United States, to compare and articulate diverse understandings of citizenship. The central argument posits that comparing these varied interpretations illuminates national specificities and highlights the challenges in forging a shared democratic consensus between East and West.

This collection is presented as an interdisciplinary examination of citizenship in post-communist Eastern Europe, aiming to foster a comparative understanding across national contexts. The contributions are intended to highlight both specific national characteristics and the shared challenges in establishing democratic consensus between Eastern and Western Europe. The volume's structure suggests a scholarly approach, drawing on diverse academic fields to analyze a fundamental concept of political community. The overall goal is to articulate and compare the meanings and implications of citizenship in a period of significant political change.