Despite decades as the official 'ruling class, ' labor has become a marginal social and political actor throughout Eastern Europe in the postcommunist era. Through a broad array of case studies, including such under-studied countries as Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, the contributors provide the first detailed exploration of every facet of labor in the region. Examining the causes, extent, significance, and political implications of union weakness, the volume assesses the impact of labor debility on the consolidation of democracy in the region