The study combines the debate on regionalisation with transformation research. It regards the formation of regional actors and institutions not primarily from the perspective of formal organisational structures, but also a consequence of the macro-political transformation regime and region-specific opportunity structures. These structures include evonomic restrictions, historical legacies and cultural resources that are conveyed in present informal mechanisms, personal networks, discourses, and development strategies.The qualitative empirical approach offers a vivid picture of regional developments. The two volumes cover Malopolska and Silesia (Poland), Hajdu-Bihar County (Hungary), Timis County (Romania), and the L'viv and Donetsk regions (Ukraine).