This volume investigates the complex economic and political shifts occurring within nations transitioning from command-based systems to market-oriented economies following the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. Author Ian Jeffries utilizes a structured, chronological approach to document the specific challenges faced by thirty-five countries between 1993 and 1995. By contextualizing economic data within the prevailing political climate of the era, the text provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the systemic instability and reform efforts inherent in post-communist state-building.

Experts and researchers frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for understanding the immediate post-Soviet economic landscape. Readers often note the high density of the prose and the meticulous attention to regional political context, which makes it a standard resource for students of transition economics.