This book investigates the complex intersection of industrial legacy, political transition, and ecological degradation within the East Central European region. Authors Francis W. Carter and David Turnock utilize their extensive backgrounds in geography and regional studies to analyze how decades of state-planned economic policies contributed to severe environmental damage. The text provides a systematic framework for understanding the transition from command economies to market-based systems and the subsequent challenges in implementing sustainable environmental management practices.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the specific environmental challenges faced by post-socialist states in Europe. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the comprehensive nature of the regional data provided.