Full Steam Ahead for the New NATO Invitees

Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the new NATO invitees, have made remarkable progress in transitioning to Western-style democracies and free market economies. Each countries' challenges differ, but they share a common thread. After decades of communist control and centrally planned economies the transition they are presently undergoing is difficult and slow. Political and economic aspects are intertwined and, like Poland, whose economy has had the most success, stability and a growing prosperity are the prizes. Politically, parties in each country are still struggling for an identity. The communist party, though no longer dominant in these countries, remains viable and continues to yield considerable influence.