Following the collapse and subsequent breakdown of the communist systems/regimes of central Eastern Europe, the previous satellites of the Soviet Union were now free to reform, leading to the inevitable transition era. After more than forty years of mostly oppression under the communist regime, the people wanted the freedom of a democratic society and economic development with the result of material prosperity, which was expected from the transition to a capitalist market economy. Most of the ex-satellite countries wanted to renew their European heritage and form successful relations with the western world; their goal was ultimately admission to NATO...
and trade with the European community grew to 60% of her external trade.

Transitional economies of Poland, Hungary and the Czech republic, experienced quite severe recessions throughout the first few years of economic upheaval. Yet through whatever methods, be it shock therapy or gradualism, and the hardships which have been faced during the first half of the nineties, all three have successfully transformed their highly centralised, and majoratively state owned economies into fully functioning market economies. An undeniable proof of this is their acceptance into the European Union, as democratic market economies that have achieved relative success.