Everyday life after communism: some observations from Lithuania
ENEast European countries have been experiencing a of transition. State Communism, dependence, and command economres are bemg superseded by democracy, independence, and capitalism. Yet, within a relatively short period, it has become clear that many East Europeans are ambivalent about these changes. This has been reflected, for example, in the electoral victories of former Communists in various countries. What has been far less clear for many foreign observers is why such ambivalent sentiments have become prevalent. This monograph seeks to make a modest contribution to understanding how the changes have affected the everyday lives of people in Eastern Europe. It addresses mundane but nonetheless important questions, such as the following: How has the transition affected the routines of daily life? How has it changed, or not changed, people's experiences as they shop, get around, work, and relax? More specifically, how do people who were used to queuing in state-run shops, and being served by surly people, react to the enticing service offered in new, privately-owned shops? How do they adjust from a context where the state catered, albeit unevenly, to their needs for housing, income, and employment, to one where responsibility is increasingly being shifted to the private sector and to themselves? How do they cope with living in a society that used to reward conformity and self-effacement and now emphasizes individuality and initiative? What is it like to be faced, for the first time ever, with the real prospect of unemployment and poverty, while a fortunate, devious and entrepreneurial few achieve financial wealth and success? What is it like to see savings eroded by currency reform and inflation, to the point that they are virtually worthless?.
