Preface -- The coherence of the classical system -- Introduction -- The main line of causality -- The affinity among elements of the system -- The prototype and the national variations -- The Soviet effect -- Verification -- The viability of the classical system -- The inner contradictions of reform socialism -- Introduction -- Transformation without a strategy -- The evolution of a private sector -- The persistence of bureaucracy -- Alternative forms of social organization -- The weakness of "third forms" -- Normative implications -- Market socialism? Socialist market economy? -- Introduction -- Interpretation of the term "market" -- Interpretation 1: Marx's concept -- Interpretation 2: The Walrasian concept -- Interpretation 3: The Leninist concept -- Interpretation 4: The social democratic concept -- Interpretation 5: What are the current Chinese and Vietnamese interpretations of "socialism"? -- The speed of transformation -- Introduction -- Ownership reform and development of the private sector -- Macroeconomic stability -- Conclusion -- The great transformation of Central Eastern Europe: success and disappointment -- Introduction -- In the context of world history -- From the perspective of everyday life -- The tasks of the economists' profession -- What does "change of system" mean? -- Introduction -- Positive versus normative approach -- A positive approach to the change of system -- A positive approach to changing the political structure -- The reception of capitalism and democracy: a normative approach -- "Replacing the elite" and "dispensing justice": a normative approach -- Concluding remarks -- Appendix: The transformation of China -- What can countries embarking on post-socialist transformation learn from the experiences so far? -- Introduction -- Starting points -- Some lessons -- Concluding remarks -- Appendix -- The system paradigm -- Introduction -- A system paradigm, not a transformational paradigm -- A brief intellectual history -- The main attributes of the system paradigm -- Post-socialist transformation: the great challenge -- Some other puzzles -- Failures of prediction -- Appendix: On segregation of the social science -- Previous publications of the studies in this volume -- References -- Name index -- Subject index.