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Private property restitution: the geographical consequences of official government policies in Central and Eastern Europe
Author(s) -
Blacksell Mark,
Born Karl Martin
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geographical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1475-4959
pISSN - 0016-7398
DOI - 10.1111/1475-4959.00046
Subject(s) - restitution , government (linguistics) , private property , central government , investment (military) , political science , local government , economic growth , economic policy , development economics , economy , business , economics , public administration , law , politics , philosophy , linguistics
The restitution of private property has been a widespread and controversial part of the post‐socialist transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, raising issues about social justice and the responsibilities of national governments for the actions of their predecessors. This paper reviews the implementation of the restitution process in the countries of the region and assesses the impact on the social and economic landscape. The policy has been most extensive in Germany and most controversial in Poland, and the impacts in these two countries are considered in detail. The results show that everywhere restitution has resulted in winners and losers, with some claimants having long‐lost property returned, but too often at the cost of residents losing their homes. However, an important benefit, notably in Germany's New Bundesländer, has been the introduction of much‐needed new investment into the urban fabric of towns and cities, although the landscape impacts elsewhere have been less significant. Nevertheless, throughout Central and Eastern Europe restitution policies have helped governments to come to terms with a difficult aspect of the past and move forward.