Similarities and Connections between Postsocialism and Postcolonialism: Analysis of Postsocialist and Postcolonial Countries
Abstract
The subject of this study is a theoretical analysis of postsocialist and postcolonial countries seen from the perspective of their current situation and expected future development. The study will focus on the analysis and interpretation of socio-cultural development of former socialist societies after 1989 and former colonial territories.
The aim of the study is to describe details and differences between postcolonial and postsocialist countries. The term postsocialism is used to denote the historical period that came after the early phase of socialism.
When interpreting the relation between socialism and postsocialism after 1989, different approaches will be observed together with geographical, political and economic aspects of socio-cultural change. The term postcolonialism is used in this study to denote the period after former colonies became independent.
The study analyses social, economic and political factors and situations that occurred in former colonies and metropolises in the postcolonial era. The study points out characteristics of a postcolonial country that include, i.e., the lack of patriotism, local identity enhanced at the expense of the centre, inefficient central economy and central institutions or inappropriate public goods allocation.
The study tries to describe the process of establishing and forming a national identity in the postsocialist and postcolonial period. The aim of the study is to understand and interpret processes of socio-cultural changes that occurred during the transformation of socialism into postsocialism and colonialism into postcolonialism.