Transitology

Transitology refers to the economic and sociopolitical reform efforts by Western governance to transform nondemocratic states, and particularly the former Soviet Union, into a model premised on free-market principles and the rule of law. As a description and set of policy reforms, transitology is based on specific ideas about human behavior, societal characteristics, and government functions. Though many of its core tenets continue to be popular within governance, it is widely seen as a policy failure in its historical contexts. This entry briefly introduces transitology literature as it relates to the former Soviet Union concerning economic debates and sociopolitical theory. The entry concludes with a concise discussion of how recent scholarship engages the legacy of transitology in contemporary governance.