How are democracy and the rule of law faring in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union? In , leading regional specialists offer answers by reporting on more than fifty key indicators of political and social reform in twenty-seven post-Communist countries. Each country report analyzes electoral processes; civil society; media independence; governance; corruption; and constitutional, legislative, and judicial frameworks. The results are incisive, authoritative, and comprehensive. As an added dimension, Freedom House—which for more than twenty-five years has rated global political rights and civil liberties in its benchmark surveys—has developed a rating system that allows for comparative analysis of reforms. is an invaluable resource and reference tool for governmental and nongovernmental organizations, schools and universities, and anyone else interested in better understanding the structures and institutions that form the infrastructure on which transitions to open societies depend.