This work investigates the paradox of civil society in post-communist Europe, questioning whether the proliferation of non-state organizations necessarily strengthens democratic governance. Cas Mudde and Petr Kopecky, both established scholars in political science and European studies, utilize a comparative framework to analyze the development of civic institutions in the region. They argue that the assumption that all civil society activity is inherently pro-democratic is flawed, as many organizations may actually harbor exclusionary or anti-democratic agendas.

Experts in the field of democratization studies frequently cite this text as a critical intervention in the study of post-communist political development. Scholars note that the authors provide a necessary, nuanced critique of the optimistic assumptions that dominated early transition literature.