"This book examines the relationship between governments, labor, and business in central and Eastern Europe as capitalism develops. The tripartite forums for social dialogue in Bulgaria and Poland are described as "tripartism," a new postcommunist species of state-society interaction and a brand of capitalism distinct from American neoliberalism, Western European neocorporatism, and Japanese statism.

These forums are understood as institutionalizing of conflict among postcommunist social actors in the industrial arena and consist of three specific elements: political negotiations, civic participation, and multilevel bargaining. The emergence and development of postcommunist tripartism are significantly shaped by the twin domestic necessities to preserve social peace and legitimate and consolidate the social actors.

The book explains variations in the establishment and functioning of tripartite institutions across Central and Eastern European countries, industries, and regions, with corporatist legacies and legacies of extrication paths from state socialism, on the one hand, and, on the other, with social partners' strategic commitment to concerted action.

Integration into the international economy and polity, especially European integration, has somewhat diminished differences and, in the long run, is helping to preserve and maintain social dialogue structures in the Central and Eastern European region."--BOOK JACKET.