The Trials of Transition of Former Communist Nations: The Nonperformers examines the nations that have struggled to break free from their socialist or authoritarian pasts and have faced significant challenges in their transitions to democracy and capitalism. This book delves into the experiences of the laggards — countries like Cuba, North Korea, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Laos, Angola, and Zimbabwe — which have remained largely resistant to reform, trapped in political stagnation and economic hardship.

Through a series of essays, this book explores the various factors that have hindered progress in these countries, from entrenched authoritarian regimes and the persistence of state-controlled economies to political repression and lack of institutional development. Despite initial hopes for democratic change and market reforms after the collapse of communism, these nations have remained stuck in the mud, unable or unwilling to embrace the global shift toward democracy and capitalism.

This book offers a critical analysis of the reasons for these nations' stalled transitions and the ongoing consequences of their failure to reform, shedding light on the difficult realities of moving away from entrenched systems of control.